Prime Minister John Key said he believes there is a growing momentum toward agreement on a Trans Pacific Partnership deal this week.

McCully says Goals set by the United Nations need to be more than a feel-good measure and aid has to be better targeted.

PM John Key arrives in NY today to join about 160 other world leaders for a UN General Assembly week in which Syria is again expected to overshadow the main business of the week.

A Kiribati family who claimed to be the world's first refugees from climate change will have to leave their rented house in West Auckland after the father was detained this week.

The United Nations' General Assembly has decided to introduce greater transparency to the selection process for its next Secretary-General.

Immigration Minister confirms New Zealand will take a total of 750 Syrian refugees - 600 in an emergency intake over and above the usual annual quota of 750.

The one-off intake will go "over and above" New Zealand's annual refugee quota, but will not number into the thousands, Prime Minister says.

Former PM Helen Clark says there needs to be a "a lift in ambition" among countries around the world in setting and hitting targets to combat climate change.

David Hyde, who caused an uproar after he was reportedly living in a tent, has admitted he arranged for his situation to be leaked to the media.

David Hyde couldn't afford accommodation in one of the world's most expensive cities. Now locals have come to his rescue.

The Security Council chamber at the United Nations was full of small island states yesterday, with nations debating the impacts of climate change, crime, and illegal fishing.

NZ Herald Political editor Audrey Young sits down with Foreign Minister Murray McCully in New York to reflect on his job and his latest experience.

Over 70 countries joined a New Zealand-sponsored debate at the Security Council early today (NZ time) on peace and security in small island developing states (SIDS).

From the outside, the Security Council looks like a shed out the back of the United Nations.

It was what Murray McCully called a "bad day for the Security Council" after Russia stopped an international tribunal being set up to prosecute the people who shot down MH17.

What happens when the Secretary General's term ends next year is only faintly more transparent than appointing a new Pope, writes Audrey Young.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has thanked US Secretary of State John Kerry for his "patient and effective diplomacy" in putting the Iran nuclear deal together.

The council's decision-making process was on the agenda - and snapper and mini pavs were on the menu.

NZ has told members of the UN Security Council that there is a window of opportunity for the council to act to restart negotiations in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

The United Nations Security Council - led by New Zealand - has unanimously endorsed the recently struck Iran nuclear deal.

Simpson And His Donkey is named after the famous Australian soldier, but actually features NZ medic Richard Henderson. Photo / supplied

Now that it is our turn to chair the United Nations Security Council Murray McCully says we will attempt to revive peace talks between Israel and Palestine. Not an easy task.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark says New Zealand has to be ready for anything to happen as it assumes the chair of the UN Security Council tomorrow.

Until last week, most Kiwis would never have heard of Gerard van Bohemen.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully should be removed from Cabinet over his handling of the Saudi farm deal, Labour says.

The Great Barrier Reef will not be listed as endangered but will remain under watch because of "major threats" to its health.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will leave behind an ongoing controversy over a multi-million dollar farm deal when he heads overseas on official business this weekend.

The world's largest nuclear meeting, the five-yearly Review Conference of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has just closed at the United Nations headquarters in New York.