Carter: new UN job not a Clark hook-up

Chris Carter. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Te Atatu MP Chris Carter says his former boss, Helen Clark, had nothing to do with his new position with the United Nations in Afghanistan's capital Kabul.

Former Prime Minister Ms Clark took up a position as the head of the UN Development Programme after losing the election in 2008.

Her position is the third highest in the United Nations.

Mr Carter is leaving New Zealand next Wednesday to take up a position as a director of the Governance Unit of the UN mission in Kabul will involve battling corruption.

"I will head a team based in the Ministry of the Interior, which advises President Karzai and his ministers on effective ways of improving local governance at the provincial level with the police and the judiciary," he said.

"The UN has a lot of pilot projects in Afghanistan and I will advise New York as to the effectiveness of those."

There will not be a byelection in Te Atatu because the six-month window before the general election has closed. The seat will be left vacant.

He said his contract was for one year, with a possible extension.

Asked this morning on Morning Report whether Ms Clark had played a part in his appointment, Mr Carter replied "none whatsoever".

He said he had three referees from the Labour caucus, who he declined to name but did confirm leader Phil Goff was not one of them.

He said he went to Afghanistan with a lot of experience to bring to the job.

"I guess they've judged I'm the most competent to do it."

- with Herald Online staff