John Key on David Letterman Top 10 List 2009 Sept

Posted on 02. Oct, 2009 by h0ausagi in Politcians

John Key admits he might struggle to get a laugh out of Kiwis after his appearance on the iconic Late Show with David Letterman in the United States.

Speaking after the show was pre-recorded in New York today, Mr Key said the humour was probably pitched toward an American audience, rather than a Kiwi one, but the show had been a great experience.

Mr Key gave reporters a sneak preview of his “Top 10 reasons for visiting New Zealand” on the show, which does not screen till 11pm tonight New York time.

“One of them was it’s a convenient 20 hour flight away; if you go in the next 30 days I’ll pick you up at the airport personally and unlike the rest of the world, we like Americans.”

Mr Key took his children Max and Steffie to the show, and wife Bronagh.

Asked for the family’s verdict on his appearance he said they seemed happy enough.

Mr Key stopped to watch the rest of the show after his appearance and said it had been a great promotion for New Zealand.

He later sent a link to video of the show via his Twitter account.

About John Key

John Phillip Key (born 9 August 1961) is the 38th and current Prime Minister of New Zealand and leader of the New Zealand National Party.

John Key entered the New Zealand House of Representatives in 2002 representing the north-west Auckland constituency of Helensville as a National MP, a seat that he has held since then. In 2004 he was appointed Finance Spokesman for National and eventually succeeded Don Brash as the National Party leader in 2006. Key led his party to victory in the November 2008 general election.

Key became Prime Minister following the general election on 8 November 2008 which signalled an end to the Labour-led government of nine years under Helen Clark. The National Party, promoting a policy of “change”, won 45% of the party vote and 59 of the 122 seats in Parliament (two seat overhang), a substantial margin over the Labour Party which won 43 seats.

Key was sworn in as Prime Minister on 19 November 2008 along with his new cabinet.[21] His first international outing as Prime Minister was the 20th APEC meeting in Peru the following day.

2009 UN meeting in New York & David Letterman appearance

Key launched New Zealand’s campaign for a Security Council seat at the UN General Assembly meeting in September 2009. He met briefly with US President Barack Obama and former US President Bill Clinton. While in New York, Key appeared on the US show the Late Show with David Letterman. He read out the Top Ten list, ‘Top Ten Reasons You Should Visit New Zealand’.

John Key’s top 10 reasons for visiting New Zealand

1. Unlike most of the world, we still like Americans.

2. We drive on the left side of the road, like the British and Lindsay Lohan.

3. 70 per cent of our energy is generated through renewable hydropower look, these don’t all have to be jokes.

4. Visit in the next 30 days, I’ll pick you up at the airport.

5. Get the whanau together, stay in a bach, crack open the chilly bin and slap on your jandals.

6. Down there Leno’s on at 9 o’clock.

7. It’s like England without the attitude.

8. Only a convenient 20-hour flight away.

9. We have the loosest slot machines in the Pacific rim.

10. The Auckland airport now has a Cinnabon (A chain store specialising in sweet Danish pastries).