Nevertheless Ms Bennett said the businesswoman was the person to take the city into the future.
"I so just care passionately about the leadership of this great city, I've been wanting someone to believe in and I found someone to believe in."
Ms Crone in turn expressed her gratitude to the MP for her support and guidance.
"To learn a few tricks of the trade from Paula is going to be immensely helpful," she said. "It's fantastic to be able to catch up and as I say get some tips and check in."
Over lunch the pair planned to talk politics and set clear goals and strategies for the mayoral campaign.
Ms Bennett said she'd be backing Ms Crone all the way.
"You've got to back someone and get in behind them. So I'm really keen to help in the campaign sense in any way I can."