Key butters up Clark with Vogel's at NY meeting

John Key with Helen Clark in New York. Photo / NZPA

NEW YORK - The relationship between Prime Minister Helen Clark and her National Party replacement John Key was anything but stale when the pair met for talks in New York today.

Miss Clark, now head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was buttered up by the visiting leader when he bought her two loaves of Vogel's bread.

"If every guest brings a loaf of good New Zealand bread I am very happy," she said of the gift.

Mr Key said talks were not at all starchy.

"Not in the slightest (uncomfortable), it was wide ranging and I found it informative. Helen just sort of jogged across all the various different bits of territory that she now has responsibility for ... and it was just interesting for me to catch up on her take of world events."

Miss Clark said she had no problem with talking to the man she lost last year's election to.

"I think it's important in politics to move on as you have heard me say many times, and I have moved on to the extent of moving probably 8000 miles away and making a decision not to comment on New Zealand politics at all," she said.

"Everyone knows where my heart and allegiances will always be but I've gone on to a different state, and by the way I am loving it. There's a fantastic opportunity and really a privilege, New Zealand's never far away - it's a text, an email, a phone call away and I remain interested but not engaged."

Asked if Mr Key got any tips on staying in office, he said he had not asked and did not think Labour leader Phil Goff would appreciate it.

"We did manage to bring up Helen some Vogel's bread to make her feel a bit more at home anyway."

The pair largely talked about climate change but also world events, Fiji, the economy, role of UNDP, and the Pacific.

- NZPA