Prime Minister John Key misses call from US President-elect Donald Trump after earthquakes
Prime Minister John Key missed a call from US President-elect Donald Trump while dealing with the aftermath of Monday's devastating magnitude-7.5 earthquake.
However, Key hopes to hear from "The Donald" again soon, and says a number of other world leaders have called or texted him to offer their support.
Key hadn't even realised he'd missed a call from the US election-winner on Monday while handling the Government's response to the North Canterbury earthquakes.
He told Radio NZ he missed the call so his foreign policy advisors told him to keep his phone on him.
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"I did something I've never done before and took my phone to Cabinet incase he was trying to get hold of me again."
"I think they're trying pretty hard to get hold of me today or tomorrow," Key said.
He understood Trump was calling in a "combination of his new role and also to express his sympathies".
A spokesperson for Key said the Prime Minister was "grateful to have heard from a number of leaders and governments from around the world expressing their sympathies and offering their support".
"He has already spoken with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte. President elect Donald Trump has tried to call and the Prime Minister is hoping to speak with him in the next few days.
"It is heartening to have support from the international community in times of difficulty and it shows New Zealand and New Zealanders are in the thoughts of people around the world. New Zealand does the same when other nations are in times of need.
"The issue will also no doubt be raised in the Prime Minister's meetings with other leaders at APEC this week."
Key told TVNZ he was not quite sure how the call slipped by, but was hopeful the pair would connect soon.
"Yeah, apparently, that's what Trump's people said, that apparently I missed a call.
"But I had my phone, I certainly didn't see it - it was a fairly crazy time, so look, he is trying to make contact and that will happen some time pretty soon."
Asked whether Trump was calling to offer his support following the earthquakes, Key said the pair had been trying to set up a call earlier, after Trump won the US election last week.
"I suspect [Trump's call was] a bit of both: I mean, he's now in his capacity as president-elect is going to be following what's happening around the world, and lots of leaders did ring me.
"(Australian Prime Minister) Malcolm Turnbull was on the phone straight away, the Dutch prime minister ... Lots of people did ring and text and say, 'Are you OK?' and offered support - that was really nice."