WELLINGTON, Nov 14, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Incoming New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will not attend this week's meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in San Francisco, his spokesman said Tuesday as talks to form a new government continued.

Luxon's centre-right National Party won the biggest share of votes at last month's general election but still needs the support of liberal party ACT and populist New Zealand First to govern.

Coalition talks have been ongoing since the final results were announced on November 3.

With discussions rumbling on in Wellington, Luxon will miss the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, hosted by US President Joe Biden.

In a brief statement, a National Party spokesman said Luxon -- who is heavily involved in coalition negotiations -- "will not be attending APEC".

Luxon told local media on Tuesday that "we have made great progress" in stitching together a coalition, but there were still "issues to close out".

Until a coalition is formed, New Zealand has a caretaker government under incumbent Labour prime minister Chris Hipkins, who replaced Jacinda Ardern last January.

In Luxon's absence, a representative from the current government is expected to attend APEC.

Biden will also hold a high-stakes summit in San Francisco with Chinese President Xi Jinping, part of the US leader's effort to show a united front against Beijing's growing clout.