Phil Goff

Wellington, Oct 13 NZPA - Labour leader Phil Goff has taken a trip to New York to meet with American and world leaders, just weeks after Prime Minister John Key returned from the Big Apple.

Mr Key travelled to the United States in September to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

He met US President Barack Obama twice, former president Bill Clinton, Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and former prime minister Helen Clark.

Mr Goff also met with Mr Ban.

The two discussed the political situation in Afghanistan which Mr Ban described as a "crisis", Mr Goff said.

An electoral complaints commission would likely find the recent elections there were fraudulent and recommend a second vote, he said.

"This outcome aggravates the situation."

Mr Goff also discussed politics with UN officials, including his former boss, Miss Clark.

Mr Goff stuck to serious discussions, unlike Mr Key who managed to squeeze in an appearance on a popular television show hosted by David Letterman.