Key pledges PM's salary to charity if he wins

National Party leader John Key plans to give away part of his salary as prime minister if his party wins this year's general election.

Mr Key, a multi-millionaire named in this year's Rich List as worth $50 million, told the Sunday News he already donated money from the $224,500 a year he earned as opposition leader.

"I will continue that practice should I become prime minister," he said. The prime minister's salary is $361,000.

Mr Key would not disclose how much he gave or to what charities.

ACT Party leader Rodney Hide praised Mr Key. "New Zealanders are generous people ... and John Key is a good example of that." Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimmons said Key was one of many MPs who donated a percentage of their government salary to charity.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he believed the move was a politically motivated.