Prime Minister John Key says the Government is not at the stage where it is formally supporting a candidate to head the IMF, but he is impressed by French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde.
International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned his role last week and is facing sexual assault charges.
Nominations are open for a new leader and Ms Lagarde has been named as a front-runner.
Mexico is also nominating a candidate - central bank chief Agustin Carstens.
Mr Key says he met Ms Lagarde on a recent trip to Paris and said she seems very competent and has a tremendous reputation.
