John Key to talk detention centres with Australia PM

John Key is to talk with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull this week. Photo / Supplied

John Key says a tough policy that has seen Kiwis housed in Australian detention centres will "dominate" his talks with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull this week.

Mr Turnbull and a delegation will arrive in Auckland on Friday afternoon, ahead of his bilateral meeting with Mr Key on Saturday.

An Australian policy, introduced late last year, has seen the detention and deportation of non-Australians who have incurred a prison sentence of a year or more.

Mr Key told TV3's Paul Henry programme the policy would dominate the discussions this week.

But he rejected the claim New Zealand had been "soft" on Australia so far.

"We need to negotiate with these guys, not put them in an arm-lock.

"Our argument has been there should be a carve out for New Zealand in some form. The point here is that there is a special relationship between New Zealand and Australia and we are Anzac brothers. We get a better deal, frankly."

He said Mr Turnbull was a "moderate guy" and they would have "good conversations" about the issue.

"That's going to dominate the weekend, that's the reality of what the press are going to ask," Mr Key said.

Mr Key also told TV3 he did not need Labour to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership but it would be "great" if the party did.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB, Mr Key said he believed logic and flexibility would be taken into account by Mr Turnbull - but he could not guarantee the policy would change.

He said "badgering" Australia would not help but there would be intense discussions about the policy this week.

"In the end I think they'll want to preserve that special relationship and I do think that you'll see some movement there but I can't guarantee it.

"I can't force them and badgering them won't get there, but I think the power of reasonable logic will play out over time," he said.