John Key takes ill after arrival in New York

John Key has had a busy week: a visit with the Queen, meetings with the French President and he's now in New York to sell New Zealand as a contender for seat on the UN Security Council.

Prime Minister John Key says he is feeling fine again after a bout of illness on the streets of New York this morning.

Mr Key is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and was on his way to the first event on his schedule - a state luncheon - when he turned pale and had to run into a nearby pub.

However this afternoon he said he felt fine again.

"I don't know whether I ate something or whatever, but it was short and sharp."

He said he had had "a desperate sensation to throw up" when he was talking to the media about 10 minutes before he ran into trouble on the footpath.

"But we've done our things today."

He said his bilateral meetings, in which he is seeking support for the Security Council seat vote, had gone well.

They were with Côte d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon and Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla Miranda.

"I think we're getting good signals, but there's a lot of work to be done."

He said he had emphasised New Zealand's credentials.

"I think they know New Zealand well and there's a fair bit of respect for us, and generally a bit of a sense that we were last on it 20 years ago and it's New Zealand's turn."

Mr Key has more than 50 engagements over the next four days.

In January Mr Key was taken to hospital after fainting in front of a full restaurant in Christchurch.

A spokeswoman later said the Prime Minister couldn't specify a reason for his faint, "but sometimes these things just happen."