New Zealand prime minister-elect will not attend APEC, government says

FILE PHOTO: Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party waves to supporters at his election party after winning the general election to become New Zealand’s next prime minister in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14, 2023. REUTERS/David Rowland/File Photo

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon will not attend APEC in San Francisco and instead the country's caretaker trade minister will represent the country, the political parties confirmed on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the caretaker government said Damien O'Connor, who remains the country's trade minister until a new government is sworn in, will attend the APEC meeting on behalf of the government this week.