New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says there is no Pacific Islands Forum without Australia and New Zealand.

Responding to Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama’s call to remove Australia and New Zealand from the Forum only then he will attend the leaders meeting; Key says the two countries are the biggest funder’s of the Pacific.

Key told New Zealand station Radio Tarana Bainimarama’s absence from the Forum for the past 6 years, has not made any difference.

‘’When it comes to the Pacific Island Forum its Australia and New Zealand that put in the money and most typically and we there to support our Pacific friends whether its Fiji or Tonga or Samoa or in Melanesia or Solomon Islands or PNG whatever it might be – so a Pacific Forum without Australia and New Zealand would be an interesting thing I suppose and that those leaders would be able to talk about things but exactly where will they get the money to do anything and the answer is nowhere – none of them have that – So I don’t think you want to take him seriously… I am not and I don’t think other people will be either’’.

The Pacific Islands Forum meeting will be held in Papua New Guinea in September.

FBC News has sought comments from Prime Minister Bainimarama.