New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, will auction the cast on his broken right arm to raise money for a charity for the blind in the Solomon Islands.

Mr. Key told members of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomons yesterday that he would put the cast, signed by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, up for sale on Trade Me.

He would ask wife Bronagh to make a bid of "$1000 bucks or so" to kickstart the auction.

Mr. Key broke his arm when he fell leaving a stage at a Chinese New Year function in Auckland this month.

The cast comes off in two weeks and has been signed by other leaders as well as Mr Rudd. Mr. Key said it was suggested he should sell it to raise money for a local charity by the Kiwi police contingent in the Solomons.

The broken arm has sparked headlines around the world, including one in a British newspaper that read: "NZ Prime Minister gets plastered."


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