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.

Key is going to the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru.