In January 2009, after addressing Chinese New Year celebrations at the Greenlane ASB Showgrounds, Key tripped after coming down a small set of stairs in front of cameras leaving him with a broken right arm and "embarrassed".<ref name="NZ_Herald_10552474">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10552474 |title=John Key says arm break 'very embarrassing' |author=Trevett, Claire |date=19 January 2009 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=12 September 2011}}</ref>
====Electorate office firebombing====
On 10 September 2009, a [[molotov cocktail]] was thrown through a window in Key's electorate office in [[Kumeu]], causing minor damage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://msn.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10596416|title=Molotov cocktail caused fire at Key's electorate office - police|author=[[New Zealand Press Association]]|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=10 September 2009|accessdate=13 June 2010}}</ref><!-- by whom? any further info? -->
====UN Security Council bid====
[[File:John Key with Obamas.jpg|thumb|John and Bronagh Key meet Barack and Michelle Obama at the [[Metropolitan Museum]] in New York, 23 September 2009.]]
Key launched New Zealand's campaign for a Security Council seat at the [[UN General Assembly]] meeting in September 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=NZ to seek Security Council seat, Key tells UN |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10599758 |date=26 September 2009|accessdate=13 June 2010 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |first=Maggie|last=Tait}}</ref> He met briefly with US President [[Barack Obama]] and former US President [[Bill Clinton]]. While in [[New York]], Key appeared on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''. He read out the Top Ten list, 'Top Ten Reasons You Should Visit New Zealand'.<ref name="Key on Letterman">{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/john-key-david-letterman-s-late-show-3019658|title=John Key on David Letterman|author=ONE News|author2=[[New Zealand Press Association]]|work=[[Television New Zealand]]|date=25 September 2009|accessdate=13 June 2010|authorlink=One News (New Zealand)}}</ref>
====Mubarak controversy====
During the [[Egyptian Revolution of 2011]], Key was a proponent of [[Hosni Mubarak]]'s government, citing his support of [[Israel]] and refusing to call for his resignation. When asked if Mubarak should step down, he said "no".<ref name="NBR_85929">{{cite news |url=http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/key-rejects-criticism-over-mubarak-comments-nn-85929 |title=Key rejects criticism over Mubarak comments |date=14 February 2011 |agency=[[NZPA]] |work=[[National Business Review]] |accessdate=7 October 2011}}</ref>
====Limousine controversy====
In 2011, Key was caught up in a controversy over the purchase of government limousines which he denied knowledge of initially but later reports surfaced his office was aware. He was accused of being dishonest and eventually apologised, calling the deal sloppy.<ref name="ODT_148611">{{cite news |url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/148611/limo-deal-sloppy-key |title=Limo deal sloppy: Key |date=21 February 2011 |agency=[[NZPA]] |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |accessdate=7 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="NZ_Herald_10707896">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-armstrong-on-politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502865&objectid=10707896 |title=Mea culpa a bid to save brand |author=Armstrong, John |date=22 February 2011 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=7 October 2011}}</ref>
====S&P Downgrade controversy====
In October 2011, Key made a statement where he claimed Standard and Poor's had said at a meeting in the prior month that "if there was a change of Government, that downgrade would be much more likely", this claim was contradicted by S&P after Key's credibility had been called into question.<ref>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10757922</ref><ref>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10758128</ref>
==Political views==
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