The risk of embarrassing Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was behind a move to ask her to speak to New Zealand's Parliament outside normal hours, Prime Minister John Key revealed this afternoon.
However, a spokesman from the Australian leader's office says she is honoured to be able to speak in the debating chamber and decisions about when were up to the Parliament.
Ms Gillard, who arrives in New Zealand for a two-day visit today, will become the first foreign leader to address Parliament when she gives a speech tomorrow at 11am.
However, while she will speak in the debating chamber it will not be during a formal session of Parliament.
That was due to the Green Party raising concerns the move would set a precedent.
"We've always said `no-one else on to the floor of the House except the elected representatives'.
That's a fundamental principle of our democracy, so we don't see any reason to break with that tradition," Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said.
"If we change this long-standing rule, then it will create a slippery slope which could undermine the democratic sovereignty of our Parliament."
Mr Key, at his post-Cabinet press conference, said his preference had been for Ms Gillard to speak to Parliament while it was in session.
"But the Greens made it clear ... that they wouldn't support that and we didn't want to have an embarrassing situation where the Prime Minister of Australia - giving her first formal address in our Parliament and the first foreign leader to do so - had some member of Parliament get up and object.
"So, it had to be buttoned down before her visit and, on that basis, we came to a compromise that she would speak outside of the normal sitting hours."
Mr Key said it was not a slight against Ms Gillard, as the Greens had been focused on the precedent issue, not her.
"All said and done, that's a semantic issue ... she is going to be the first foreign leader to speak in our Parliament.
That's a very significant event and I think it signifies the importance of the relationship between New Zealand and Australia and we shouldn't take anything away from that."
A spokesman for Ms Gillard said it was up to the Government and Parliament when her address was held.
"The Prime Minister is looking forward to her visit to New Zealand and to addressing members of the New Zealand Parliament," he said.
"The Prime Minister regards it as an honour that she is able to make her address in the Parliament's debating chamber, arrangements for the address are a matter for the New Zealand Government and New Zealand Parliament."
Mr Key said whether other leaders were awarded the honour would be something given considerable thought.
"But, clearly, if the prime minister of Britain or the president of the United States of America or a senior European leader came to New Zealand we would consider that on a case by case basis."
He said New Zealand had not sought a reciprocal arrangement with Australia.
Labour leader Phil Goff said he supported the decision to have Ms Gillard speak in Parliament, and the fact the House was not formally sitting did not detract from the event.
