NZ PM to front TPP talks after Obama's no-show

WITH US President Barack Obama stranded at home over a budget stalemate with the Republicans, the man in the hot seat for today's Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks is New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

Mr Key will chair the high-level meeting on the free-trade agreement with the leaders of Singapore and 10 other countries in Bali as they try to make a concerted push towards the finish line.

All the TPP members are currently on the Indonesian resort island to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.