Brian Rudman makes good sense. JK may 'grant' the DL a meeting if the DL has at first managed to meet with Obama, Brown, Sarkozy, Putin and the other political leaders. I would wager that NONE would meet him. Politics and religion should be kept separate, and where a religious head gets involved with politics then the politicians need to keep at arms length from them. None of the colonised countries such as the US, Australia, NZ would support "greater" autonomy for Tibet since that would be akin to giving "greater" autonomy to the Red Indians, the Aust Aboriginals, or the NZ Maori (as Hone Hawariwa has pointed out, he and the DL have similar ??? , just that the DL uses nicer language (or words to that effect). Therefore JK is correct not to give political validity to the DL's private visit, and of course upsetting an elephant with real big tusks.

I agree with Steve #21 - we're up China's back end and there's no way out.

The true face of John Key

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/key104_220x147_8392.jpg

Daniel #120

The Dalai Lama is not at the same level as the Pope - The DL was never a member of Hitler Youth. Have a nice day :)

John Key should be able to make up his own mind without copying other great leaders like Helen Clark.

John Key wants to play the popular card with all the "top dogs" and is less concerned with the real issues back home. He's too consumed with meeting all the "right people" like Barack, and pleasing countries like China. Furthermore he comes off like a sissy.

I agree Helen is much more braver than John Key. When he speaks do you ever get the feeling he's a little light in the head? He's a terrible speaker!! He keeps switching his views all the time. He says one thing and then later he disagrees with what he said previously! FLIP FLOP - Come on!! You always knew where Labour stood even if it wasn't popular.

Did we really need a poll asking us whether John Key should see the Dalai Lama?? Isn't there other important issues in our country?? Like the fact that our Prime Minister won't grow a pair and stand up for things that really do matter to us, just to name a few - climate change, politicians ripping us off aka Rodney "I can criticise others for using perks but it's okay that I use tax payer money to fund my vacations with my girlfriend" Hyde, acc punishing innocent people and with this govt getting away with it!

I really don't care if he does or doesn't see the Dalai Lama, it's just like our little island New Zealand to flare up at EVERY little event. Oh what a controversy if John key doesn't meet him... Yeah right.

its just the Lama, no big deal. The prime minister has absouletely no obligiation to meet any spiritual leader be it the pope, what ever the head rabai is called or the Supreme Ayatollah of Iran. The seperation of religion from state is the one fundamental freedom we should keep.

The Dalai Lama is not at the same level as the Pope. Do you know Barack Obama is visiting China right now? He cancelled meeting with Dalai Lama before his Asian tour.

Did Helen Clark meet The Dalai Lama? So John Key is wise.

@Des

So it's OK to be a bigot and talk about what is and is not acceptable behavior between consenting adults, so long as we tolerate those who perform these acts we disapprove of?

I'm sorry, but spreading homophobic ideals while you have a cheesy smile on you face just doesn't cut it for me.

If the Dalai Lama was truly tolerant, he'd put a pie in it. Homosexual and heterosexual activity between consenting adults couldn't possibly harm him, so why voice the disapproval of it if he's "tolerant" of it anyway?

He is a very influential man and has abused that position to push his agenda with an escape clue in the guise of tolerance.

It's double-talk, it's transparent and it's ultimately very dis-honest.

Lets have a referendum!!!! (hahaaa) Chatting with the Dalai Lama will achieve nothing more than enlightening our ball-less leader & encite crticism from the Chinese, THAT IS ALL!! So what is the sense in JK meeting him? Just because he can?? To "talk"? Honestly, John Key talking to a classroom of retarded kiwi kids is better use of his time that chatting with a religious leader in exile. I plan on seeing the Dalai Lama if possible, but I find him uplifting, & Im not the leader of a Nation. JK should hear the Dalai Lama deliver a speech & make up his own mind if he wants to meet him. Rangi

@ Hollie - excuse me, but the DL is also about tolerance! Perhaps you could try that too, going by your comment, none of us should be accepting of anyone else with differing thoughts, opinions or lifestyles. Yours is by far the most irrational comment!