New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser is in the second round of the process to select the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation.
Over the weekend, the WTO knocked out four candidates for the job, leaving Mr Groser among a remaining group of five.
The new process ends on Wednesday next week. During that period, ambassadors to the World Trade Organisation will be consulted about which candidates they favour the most.
Radio New Zealand's political editor says the shortlist will then be reduced to two before members make their final decision on who should replace Pascal Lamy as director-general.
Mr Groser, a former WTO ambassador, faces competition from candidates from Indonesia, Korea, Mexico and Brazil.
He has spent months campaigning for the job once held by former Prime Minister Mike Moore in the early 2000s.
