Moore on the mend but misses awards

Mike Moore is making good progress. Photo / NZME

New Zealand's ambassador to the United States, Mike Moore, is making good progress in his recovery from a stroke this year, regaining his speech and quick wit.

But he is bound to a wheelchair and was unable to attend a prestigious ceremony in Washington DC last night to accept a lifetime achievement award from the Washington International Trade Association.

Instead, he videotaped an acceptance speech, quipping: "Three strokes and I'm out and I've only had one."

Speaking to the Weekend Herald from Washington, the former Prime Minister said he just couldn't put up with the wheelchair amid thousands of people.

He is getting physiotherapy every day and believes he will be out of the wheelchair in a few weeks to start light duties.

Senior diplomat Carl Worker, who recently ended a posting to China, is standing in for him.

Mr Moore, 66, said he had not contemplated what he would be doing once he returns to New Zealand.

"I certainly want to do some writing and catch up on that. But anything could happen. For a couple of months, I want to go to sleep, go to the beach, then plot my way back."

Mr Moore is a former director-general of the World Trade Organisation and has been close to the progress of the Trans Pacific Partnership.

Until his stroke in April, he was leading NZ's effort in Washington to try to get Congress to approve Trade Promotion Authority for the TPP.

That was passed, allowing President Barack Obama to present any agreement from next week's final TPP talks in Maui, Hawaii, as is, for a yes or no vote without amendment.

"It could fall over," Mr Moore said. "We just don't know ... it could go ahead or it could come and have another go later."