Key regrets catwalk carry on

John Key models a volunteer uniform. Photo / Natalie Slade

Prime Minister John Key has admitted he was a bit stupid to mince down the catwalk during the unveiling of Rugby World Cup volunteers' uniforms last week.

Mr Key modelled the uniforms and camped it up for the audience by mincing down the catwalk.

"I responded to the crowd last week, I was having a bit of fun, but I shouldn't have done that in my view, that was probably a bit stupid," he told Breakfast on TV One.

"But unfortunately I get put in a gazillion situations like that... My life is out there engaging with people at a million different events and where ever I go people will start throwing balls around, doing things whatever it is."

Mr Key said he had to balance getting out his serious messages with interacting with people.

However he has not resiled from remarks he on his radio spot with broadcaster Tony Veitch just over a week ago when he listed a number of female celebrities he would have on his "wish-list", and called British actress Liz Hurley "hot".

International media labelled the remarks sexist, but Mr Key did not step back from the comments when asked about them this week.

Questions were also raised about the appropriateness of Mr Key appearing on a radio show with Veitch, who was convicted in 2009 of the violent assault against his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell.

- NZPA