Christopher Luxon to attend APEC summit in China in caretaker capacity

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The prime minister will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China next week, with the government making arrangements to attend in a caretaker capacity.

The prime minister will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China next week, with the government making arrangements to attend in a caretaker capacity.

The APEC leaders' meeting will take place in Shenzhen on 18 and 19 November, with the likes of Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin all expected to be there.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will attend the East Asia Summit in the Philippines, on November 16 and 17.

While the country waits for the special votes to come in, the government is operating under the caretaker convention, meaning the opposition was consulted on the visits.

During the election campaign, Luxon said an assessment would be made on New Zealand's representation after the election, and he had told China's premier Li Qiang he was "not 100 percent sure" he would be there himself.

It is not unusual for governments to make caretaker arrangements at major international summits during election years.

In 2023, New Zealand was represented at APEC by Labour's outgoing trade minister Damien O'Connor in a caretaker capacity, while Luxon focused on forming a government.

The same year, Carmel Sepuloni attended the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in Fiji, with National's Gerry Brownlee attending plenary sessions as the government-elect representative.

Ministers did not attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda earlier this month, with New Zealand represented by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials instead.

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