Key: Banks meeting not endorsement

John Key said John Banks was a great candidate but he was not endorsing him. Photo / Dean Purcell

Prime Minister John Key says he is not publicly supporting any Auckland super city mayoral candidate despite attending a meeting of current Auckland City Mayor John Banks.

"I'm not endorsing a candidate," Mr Key told TVNZ's Breakfast programme.

He said he attended Mr Banks' event as leader of the National Party because Mr Banks was the National Party candidate.

"I went as the guest speaker and I do that all the time."

Mr Key said it was not a public meeting, it was an event to thank supporters.

"Private meetings I can do what I like," he said.

Mr Banks was a "great" candidate but Mr Key was not endorsing him, he said.

Mr Key would not say whether he had given Mr Banks' campaign any donations.

- NZPA