Auckland an anchor: Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Mark Mitchell

John Key says the Auckland economy is an "anchor" holding back New Zealand's economic growth.

The Prime Minister told the National Party conference yesterday that the debacle over where to hold "Party Central" had shown how difficult it was to get city leaders working together.

"As we have seen in the last few months it is hard to get a decision here," he said.

"When a third of the population resides in one place it should be an accelerant to national growth, rather than an anchor to the rest of the country."

Key was silent on whom he would vote for in the supermayoral elections.