Key: No reason to meet Dalai Lama this time

Prime Minister John Key says he won't be meeting the Dalai Lama on his trip to New Zealand next month, despite saying during last year's election campaign that he would.

Mr Key said yesterday that he had received an invitation to meet the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader next month but would not and nor would other Government ministers, though the National Party might.

He had met him in the past - as Opposition leader. "I have decided on this occasion there is no particular reason for me to meet with him ...

I do not meet every religious leader that comes to town."

Mr Key, who said he might meet the Tibetan in the future, said New Zealand had not been asked by the Chinese Government not to meet the Dalai Lama.

But he had told President Hu Jintao at the Apec summit in Singapore last week that he would not be meeting him, as he had China's Vice-Premier, Li Keqiang, when he visited New Zealand this month.

The Herald reported on Mr Key's campaign comments last year when an undecided voter had criticised the then Prime Minister Helen Clark for not meeting the Dalai Lama. Mr Key said he had already met him and when asked if he would meet him as Prime Minister said "I would".