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Prime Minister John Key arrives at the airport in Port-of-Spain for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) - Source: Reuters -
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At least 90 world leaders are now expected to attend next month's global climate change talks in Copenhagen but New Zealand's prime minister still says he will not be among them.
That is despite coming under pressure at a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Trinidad.
Key has been talking trade and the economy with fellow leaders but it is climate change that is dominating inside the leaders' heavily guarded retreat.
They claim to have reached a consensus on the way forward and want leaders to put their political weight behind it.
"Stay focused, stay committed and come to Copenhagen and seal the deal in Copenhagen," is the message United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is sending out.
While the pressure is mounting in Trinidad, Key has so far ruled out going to climate change talks in Copenhagen, preferring to leave the negotiations to other ministers and officials.
Key admits he is being lobbied .
"One or two mentioned they'd like to see me there," says Key.
Others are certainly caving in.
"You can add one more country to your list. It's not 90. Trinidad and Tobago will attend," says Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
But not Key.
"In the final analysis it may turn out that a decision is made that I that I should represent New Zealand and if that's the case I will go but I think it's most likely I won't be," says Key.
New Zealand is however committing money towards a new $10 billion climate change fund designed to show the Commonwealth is speaking with one voice.
"That single voice is saying to the world that we as a Commonwealth, representing a third of the world's population, believe that the time for action on climate change has come," says Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Key says action is great but we shouldn't try to lead the world.
The lingering question as the conference wraps up is will New Zealand will end up out of step with the rest of the world if Key is not at Copenhagen?
