Proof of Nobel needed first Key

Prime Minister John Key would not congratulate jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo on his Nobel Peace prize until he'd seen the "paperwork" but says the Opposition was timid under similar circumstances when in Government.

While unwilling to do so on Monday, saying he hadn't been briefed on the matter, Mr Key yesterday said of Mr Liu his Government "offers him our congratulations".

He was reluctant to do that earlier because he "hadn't seen the paperwork" and "I've learnt it's always better to be cautious and careful in these instances".

Mr Liu, 54, was awarded the prize on Friday. He is serving 11 years in jail for campaigning for democratic transformation of China's one-party state.

Mr Liu's prize was applauded in the United States and Europe but the Chinese Government cancelled a meeting with a Norwegian minister this week as a result of it.

China's Foreign Ministry called the prize an obscenity and blamed the Norwegian Government, despite it having no say in who the Oslo-based Nobel committee selects.

Labour MP and foreign affairs spokeswoman Maryan Street and Green MP Keith Locke earlier offered Mr Liu their congratulations, and Ms Street called on China to release Mr Liu as a demonstration of its progress in areas of human rights.

Her leader Phil Goff said he was "disappointed that the Prime Minister has ducked for cover" by refusing to comment.

But Mr Key said Labour MPs were "lions in opposition and lamb chops when they're in Government" when it came to such matters.

He said that when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and faced with the opportunity of meeting exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama "she was looking for a used coffee table in a random Koru lounge in a far flung part of the world" at which to meet him.

"When they're in opposition they're literally hugging the Dalai Lama."

Later, Mr Key told Parliament: "The Nobel Peace prize is a prestigious award, and I congratulate those who are honoured with receiving this award."

When questioned by Mr Locke whether the Government would make any representations for the release of Mr Liu, Mr Key said New Zealand officials had previously raised the case with Chinese authorities.

"We do have different views from China on some human rights issues. We have a good and robust relationship with them and we are able to raise those issues constructively.

"Those issues are raised on a regular basis with China including on the most recent high level visit of the Foreign Minister."

- additional reporting agencies