The Prime Minister says he raised the question of human rights in a general sense while meeting with King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

John Key met with the King of the strict Islamic country that beheads those who breach sharia law and can cut off the hands of thieves.

But a business mentor John Lockwood who’s lived in Riyadh for the past 15 years, says there’s a danger of going to the country and laying down the law.

"Move cautiously, think about where you see New Zealand's relationship, particularly as this is the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia. Proceed cautiously rather than being overly confrontational."

Opinion: The Soap Box - No room for sentiment in Saudi business

Key is positive about finally securing a free trade agreement with The Gulf States.

The region currently takes $1.9 billion worth of our exports each year. With an agreement that's expected to double over the next 10 years.

The sticking point came when it was shelved six years ago was Saudi Arabia. John Key met with the Saudi King today and says that face time was important.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of Saudi Arabia's richest men, met with John Key in Riyadh today and says he's keen on coming to New Zealand.

The Prince owns the luxury Four Seasons Hotel chain with Bill Gates and says he'd like to look at that sort of investment.

"I will come and explore all opportunities, and what it's going to take to build a hotel there. Maybe join forces with local developers to build a Four Seasons there, why not?."

However. the possible trade deal with Saudi Arabia is continuing to cause controversy, but this time, over worries of the effect back here.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says he doesn't have a problem with closer trade ties, but we need to make sure our New Zealand values are protected.

"You import into that the right for them to come to this country, as is already happening, then you quite soon are capable of influencing, in the wrong way, your own culture."

Peters says influence goes both ways.

"It doesn't mean that you should allow them in your country to impose their values and I suspect it's happening far too often in New Zealand."

Human rights in Saudi Arabia may have been a talking point of the visit, but domestic affairs in New Zealand may have been in the minds of Saudi officials.

John Lockwood says John Key’s pony tail antics would have been known about by the Government officials he talked to, and says they would have been smiling behind cupped hands when they met our Prime Minister.

Mr Lockwood, who himself raised the issue with journalists, says the antics would have been unheard of in Saudi Arabia where a woman’s virtue is protected.

"In the Saudi society, that would be seen as quite an offensive activity. It would be something that we be frowned upon, in fact it would be seen as an assault. That would be the natural reaction."