The New Zealand government has expressed concern about the lingering political deadlock in Thailand.

Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark conveyed Wellington's worries yesterday over the Kingdom's electoral discord and the negative impact it may have on Thailand.

But she also welcomed the healthy bilateral relationship between the two countries, the minister said.

Kantathi spent 30 minutes with the New Zealand leader yesterday. He is in the country for four days.

He told Clark that Bangkok was doing all it could to resolve its political difficulties, by constitutional and democratic means.

Clark was delighted at Thai-New Zealand relations at both the bilateral and multilateral levels and singled out the success of the "Closer Economic Partnership" trade accord.

The accord has seen annual two-way trade increase 37 per cent and the export of Thai goods to New Zealand grow 51 per cent from last year.

Thailand has asked New Zealand to consider visa exemptions for its diplomats.

Thai citizens were required to obtain visas for New Zealand from 2001, following alleged abuse of Thailand's visa-free status by asylum seekers, traffickers and those working illegally in New Zealand.

New Zealand immigration officials were still investigating claims of several Thai asylum seekers in spite of no evidence of persecution in Thailand, Kantathi said.

The minister said abuse of UNHCR conventions by bogus asylum seekers was costly and time consuming for New Zealand.

He asked Clark to consider doubling the number of young Thai people allowed to visit New Zealand on work-holiday schemes.

Kantathi said the year-old programme was popular among Thais. The 100 annual spots were snapped up quickly.

He encouraged young New Zealanders to use the arrangement to visit Thailand.

Clark sought increased co-operation between the police, particularly to counter human trafficking and drugs.

New Zealand police were among those offering forensic assistance after the Indian-Ocean tsunami.

After meeting with Clark, Kantathi attended a reception celebrating 50 years of Thai-Kiwi diplomatic relations where he presented royal decorations to two New Zealanders.

Later, Kantathi and New Zealand associate Minister of State Jim Sutton, along with 200 guests, watched a traditional Thai Khon performed by the Bangkok Dramatic Arts College. The 50-strong troupe was led by Senator-elect Samak Sundaravej.

Kantathi departs New Zealand today for the United States, where he is due to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Sopaporn Kurz

The Nation

Wellington