Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

NZ leader contacts Abbott

Updated at 7:10 pm on 23 August 2010

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has telephoned Australian Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott following Saturday's inconclusive election.

Australia has its first hung parliament since 1940 after neither the governing Labor Party nor the Coalition, led by the Liberals, won the 76 seats needed to govern alone.

Mr Key says he left a message for Mr Abbott, saying he had watched the campaign and found the situation in Australia interesting.

He says he did not call Labor Party leader Julia Gillard, because he did not have her number.

However, he says he will try to get hold of Ms Gillard on Monday.

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