Centre-right govt takes power in New Zealand

A new conservative government has been sworn into office in New Zealand, with Prime Minister John Key indicating the economy is his top priority by leaving almost immediately for a Pacific Rim leaders’ summit to discuss the global financial crisis.

Key, whose centre-right grouping won the November 8 election that toppled Helen Clark, took the oath of office along with his Cabinet ministers today in front of Governor General Anand Satyanand at Parliament House.