30 Sep 2013

NZ stance on Security Council reform supported

7:40 am on 30 September 2013

Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand's tough line on reforming the United Nations Security Council has drawn support from other countries.

Mr Key is back from New York, where he was campaigning for New Zealand to get a temporary seat on the Council in 2015-16.

While there he criticised the council's inaction on Syria and says that criticism was backed by several other nations.

Mr Key told Morning Report New Zealand has held reservations about the veto power held by the five permanent members of the council since the UN was established in 1945.

However, he said removing the veto power is a big stretch and an interim measure could be allowing other countries to join the 15 members of the council for a longer period.