'Virtually no chance' Brash will be top minister: Key

Don Brash, left, and Rodney Hide. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Prime Minister John Key overnight distanced himself from the "extreme" views of Act and said leader Don Brash had "virtually no chance" of becoming Finance Minister or Deputy Prime Minister after the next election.

Asked why, Mr Key said Act was "not likely to be a party of such size that would be commensurate with those portfolios."

"I've worked with him in the past," Mr Key said from London. "I've worked constructively with him. He has been my leader for quite a number of years. I think there is virtually no chance of him being Deputy Prime Minister or Minister of Finance."

Mr Key believed that any attempt by Dr Brash to stoke Act's support by reviving the Orewa speech themes of racial separatism would have no effect because as the leader of a small party with little influence over policy, he would not get the traction he had gotten as National Party leader.

Act had been very vocal on Maori issues this term, such as Auckland Council seats, and the foreshore and seabed reform bill, and it had made no difference.

Mr Key phoned Dr Brash last night while he was the Eurostar en route from Paris to London for the Royal wedding Friday night New Zealand time.

He congratulated him, Dr Brash confirmed the party's continuing support on confidence and supply and the pair will meet early next week.

Mr Key sought to distance Act's "extreme" policies with National "moderate" approach but said that was how it had always been - including under Rodney Hide's leadership.

"My view is that nothing has changed here."

"Act has always held extreme views and they will continue to do in our view."

National was running a constructive centre-right Government that was focused on the important issues facing New Zealand including getting back into surplus and the challenges around the Christchurch earthquake.

"To our left we have a Labour Party that wants to recklessly spend money - to our right we have an Act Party which has views that would dramatically slash expenditure and have quite substantial consequences for a great many New Zealanders."

Act's option after the elections were limited: they could work constructively with a National-led Government, sit on the cross-benches and abstain without influence on policy, or allow a Labour-led Government.

"There is more chance of me holidaying on Mars than them supporting a Labour Government."

Mr Key said he saw no reason for an early election and said it would not be in the country's best interests.

Act, the Maori Party and United Future were honouring their confidence and supply agreements.

"The government is under no pressure."

It had a Budget to pass on May 19 and New Zealand was going to host in the Rugby World Cup the biggest sporting event it had ever hosted, and ministers were intimately involved in the running of it.

"It is critically important for New Zealand that it is successful so barring something I don't know about, I can't see why we would have an early election."