John Key: Softer stance matches New Zealand's position on Bashar al-Assad's regime

John Key's first appointment in New York will be to hear US President Barack Obama and Russia's President Vladimir Putin speak at the opening of the General Assembly. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister John Key says a softening in the stance of the United States and Australia towards Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria matches New Zealand's position on the controversial leader.

Mr Key arrived in New York earlier today and his first appointment will be to hear US President Barack Obama and Russia's President Vladimir Putin speak at the opening of the General Assembly tomorrow.

Both are also due to meet early tomorrow morning - a meeting at which Russia's support of Assad's regime is expected to be the top topic.

It comes after US Secretary of State John Kerry indicated the US was open to Assad remaining in power for at least a transition period after earlier saying he should go immediately.

That softer stance was followed by Australia's foreign minister Julie Bishop who is in New York and said the need to avoid a vacuum of power could require Assad remaining in power for a transition period.

Speaking to media outside the apartment block of New Zealand's representative to the UN, Mr Key said New Zealand was not comfortable with Assad remaining in charge of Syria for the long term.

"But what we do recognise is we've never argued he has to go immediately - we have to work our way through these issues. So we've never argued up front that there has to be a regime change but we are strongly of the view that there is no long term place for him in Syria."

He said many of the refugees flowing out of Syria were fleeing Assad as well as Islamic State and for them to return both issues had to be dealt with.

Russia has begun giving Assad military support to help it combat Islamic State. Mr Key said there was no question Russia supported Assad.

"They have a different perspective to most other countries in the world." However, he said Russia's stance on Islamic State was similar to others and it had influence over Assad. "It's going to take a whole lot of different countries with a range of both capabilities and influence to get a long term solution in Syria."

Mr Key said the meeting between Obama and Putin will be critical. The focus on Syria and the refugees over the past month meant leaders were focusing on what needed to be done to resolve the issue.

Russia is also currently the chair of the Security Council and has called a meeting of foreign ministers on the Council to discuss Syria, a meeting Murray McCully will attend tomorrow.