The Prime Minister is optimistic Helen Clark can still secure the top United Nations job.

She finished midfield in the first straw poll last week.

John Key told Mike Hosking what's clear is that Europeans have voted as a bock to to discourage anyone other than a European from becoming the UN Secretary-General.

"It's not the end of the road for Helen by any stretch of the imagination, there's quite a long way to go from here, but I had a couple of chats to her over the weekend and probably she needs to change tactics a wee bit and will do that."

The Prime Minister also speaks with Mike about what came out of his recent trip to Indonesia, talks with US Vice President Joe Biden last week, and comments made by ANZ boss David Hisco about the housing market coming to a "messy end".

LISTEN ABOVE: Prime Minister John Key speaks with Mike Hosking