The New Zealand government said on Sunday that agreements reached at the climate conference at Cancun in Mexico are the most significant in a decade and substantial progress was made.

New Zealand Climate Change Ministers Tim Groser and Nick Smith said the agreement represents a step toward a global, legally binding and comprehensive agreement on climate change.

Delegates on Saturday approved a draft agreement that covers emission targets for developed and developing countries, outlines the setting up of a fund to help poorer nations deal with climate change and describe steps to halt deforestation.

However, the government said New Zealand has not achieved the gains it sought in some areas, including agriculture and forestry.

It said it will look for progress on those at next year's negotiations in South Africa.

In a related development, a New Zealander has been elected as chair of the Kyoto Protocol at the conference in Mexico.

Career diplomat Adrian Macey has been New Zealand's Climate Change Ambassador for the last four years.

His appointment takes effect immediately. It will involve chairing the negotiations after Cancun on future commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, after the existing agreement expires at the end of 2012.