20. Nov 2009
NZ PM urged to meet Dalai Lama
(NZ Herald) The Dalai Lama Trust in New Zealand has urged Prime Minister John Key to keep his pre-election promise to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader. The Prime Minister he would not meet the Dalai Lama when he comes to Auckland in December 2009 because there "is no particular reason" to do so. However, Thupten Kesang, chairman of the trust, said: "The reason is for him to keep his promise". The New Zealand Parliament was told that Mr Key had sought advice on foreign policy consequences of meeting the Dalai Lama before deciding not to. Green MP Keith Locke said the refusal to meet the Tibetan monk was an "unofficial boycott".