Key close to missing Obama call

John Key and US President Barack Obama. Photo / AP

Prime Minister John Key has been congratulated by US President Barack Obama on his re-election - though he nearly snubbed his call.

Mr Key told TVNZ's Seven Sharp that Mr Obama called from the White House to congratulate him yesterday after National won a third term in government.

"I was talking to Steven Joyce and I was on my mobile and I didn't recognise the number so I didn't take it," he said.

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"And after a couple of calls I was carrying on talking to Steven and then my police who were in the car ... said 'the President's trying to get hold of you' so I said to Steven I better hang up."

Mr Key said it was not yet known whether Mr Obama would visit New Zealand when he attended the G20 meeting in Australia in November.

He said the President "would love to come" but had a heavy schedule because he was also attending the East Asia Summit in Burma and Apec in China.