Prime Minister John Key says he will speak to New Zealand's ambassador to China about a Wellington man suffering ill health in a Chinese prison.
Danny Cancian was sentenced to prison 18 months ago for five years after killing a man who attacked him. He was convicted of over-vigorous self defence.
However, his wife Amanda Cancian says he is regularly hospitalised with breathing problems due to having to share a cell with up to 20 smokers.
Mr Key says he knows of Mrs Cancian's hope that her husband will be shifted to a smoke-free unit and will discuss the case with the ambassador.
He says he not ruled out taking it up with the Premier, although he says such a discussion would be unusual.
