A news conference in New Zealand came to an awkward halt today when the prime minister acknowledged having had a vasectomy.

John Key was responding to questions about funding changes to early childhood education centres when he was asked whether he would send his children to one with fewer qualified teachers on its staff.

"I think if I sent my 15-year-old or 17-year-old to early childhood at the moment, they would have a meltdown," he quipped. What if his wife, Bronagh, had another child, a reporter asked. "I'd be extremely worried," he replied, "because I've had a vasectomy."

The acknowledgment caused reporters who were present to fall silent, and Key admitted that it was "probably too much information" for a press conference.

"Boy, that's slowed things down," Key said. "Any other questions?"

One reporter recovered enough to ask, "Did it hurt?"

"Not overly, actually," Key said.