Politics

PM claims good progress on UN seat

15:39 pm on 26 March 2014

Prime Minister John Key believes he is making good progress in lobbying other countries' leaders to back New Zealand's campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Mr Key has been using his access to more than 50 other leaders at the Nuclear Security Summit at The Hague to make a final push for the seat for the 2015-16 term.

He said he had been pitching the angle that New Zealand was predictable and reliable.

"Essentially, New Zealand did great work when it was there last time. We're a small country, we're independent foreign policy, we're kind of an honest broker, if you like, and we're good at representing the views of smaller countries."

Mr Key said he was as confident as he could be that he had convinced enough leaders to support the bid.

The vote will be held in October.