Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon's chances of attending APEC looks slim to none, as coalition talks stretch into this week.
Instead, it will be someone from the caretaker government representing the country in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, advanced voting has opened on Monday in the Port Waikato by-election, due to the death of ACT Party candidate Neil Christensen.
RNZ Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Charlie Dreaver.
