Ease voters into reforms NZ tells Qld

New Zealand's prime minister has suggested Queensland Premier Campbell Newman take a slow and steady approach to his reforms.

Mr Newman held talks with John Key on the sidelines of the G20 on Sunday about how the New Zealand government has boosted growth.

"It's our impression that because New Zealand made the tough decisions and didn't shirk the necessary policy that you've emerged from the GFC better positioned than most nations around the world," the premier told Mr Key.

"So I'd like to have a bit of a yarn about that if we may."

Mr Key responded by saying a gradual approach to reforms was best, and that had worked well in New Zealand in relation to privatisation.

The Newman government is currently trying to convince voters to give it a mandate to lease state assets to pay down debt.

Mr Key said New Zealand voters had not been scared of the changes, because they were gradual.

"They've seen and accepted them as they've gone along," he told Mr Newman.

"It's not that we haven't done things that aren't controversial - essentially privatisations."

In a more jovial part of their conversation Mr Key also said he'd checked out the website of the Royal Queensland Golf Club, but admitted he'd be too busy at G20 to give it a go.

"It might be a bit life-threatening as well, it's 40 degrees," the premier replied.