PM's 'snip' quip draws headlines worldwide

John Key's international profile was boosted yesterday when more than 100 newspapers around the world ran stories covering his "snip" quip.

Print media from as far afield as South Africa, India and the United Arab Emirates ran articles about the post-Cabinet Beehive press conference where the Prime Minister let it slip that he had had a vasectomy.

Britain's Daily Mail reported that Mr Key was actually able to silence a room full of press with the admission.

"Moved to wince", said the headline in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Meanwhile, Canada's Associated Press suggested Mr Key gave too much away: "Too much information: New Zealand PM tells reporters about vasectomy."

Mr Key had been fielding questions on whether parents facing price increases at early childhood centres would still be better off from changes in the Budget.

When pressed about what he'd do if he had another child, he admitted: "I'd be extremely worried because I've had a vasectomy."

Although it stunned most reporters at the conference, one recovered sufficiently to ask: "Did it hurt?"

"Not overly, actually," Mr Key replied.

Another reporter then wanted to know if it was a budget cut.

"All I can say is it's been highly successful, but anyway we won't get into that either," Mr Key said.

Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that the comment "cuts press conference short".

Meanwhile, a reader commenting on the Daily Mail's article said: "Don't know him, don't know his policies, but, well done, Mr Key ... In my experience, it's the 'serious' politicos you want to watch out for."