New Zealand officials have been forced to apologise to Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard over a gaffe with a bus during last week's Pacific Islands Forum.
Internal Affairs spokesperson Tony Wallace says separate buses were provided - one for the leaders and one for their spouses.
He says a bus driver who didn't recognise Ms Gillard mistakenly stopped her when he thought she was trying to get on the wrong bus.
Mr Wallace says the driver, who is a contract worker, was stood down for the rest of the forum and an apology was made as soon as the department became aware of the incident.
