Prime Minister John Key will leave next week for a 12-day trip to the United Kingdom, France and New York that includes meeting Queen Elizabeth.
The trip will include meetings with British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande.
Mr Key and his family will also spend a weekend at Balmoral with the Queen.
In New York, he will attend the opening week of the United Nations General Assembly.
He says global issues such a response to developments in Syria are likely to be a key focus but the week will also be an opportunity to advance New Zealand interests.
Mr Key says a big part of that will be promoting New Zealand as a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2015-2016.
