Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has ruled out any change to the status of New Zealanders living across the Tasman denied the rights of citizenship.

After an hour long meeting with Prime Minister John Key in Canberra this evening, Abbott said he was "very happy" with the situation as it stood and Kiwis who came to Australia were expected to work and pay taxes like everybody else.

But he did not address the issue of Kiwis denied the rights of citizenship even after paying taxes for a decade or more.

STEFAN POSTLES/ Getty AUSTRALIA PM: Tony Abbott.

Abbott said the fact his wife is a Kiwi did not make a difference to his view.

"I'm very conscious of the great debt I personally owe New Zealand - on the other hand [my wife, Margie] says that she owes something to Australia given that Australia has been a good home to her over the last 25-30 years now.’’

Key raised the issue during a whistlestop visit to Canberra to meet Abbott ahead of the Apec summit in Bali this weekend.

GETTY SOLEMN MOMENT: John Key and Tony Abbott laid the wreaths at Canberra's war memorial.

Abbott said New Zealanders had better access to Australia than the citizens of any other country – "and that’s as it should be’’.

"What I admire about Kiwis in Australia is their commitment to have a go. They are ‘have-a-go’ people. I want everyone who comes to this country to work and pay taxes from day one and in delighted that’s exactly what Kiwis have done.

"I'm happy to keep talking to Prime Minister Key...and happy to have questions from New Zealanders on this subject but I’m very happy with the situation that exists right now which is that Kiwis coming here know that they are expected to work and pay taxes from day one as so many of them do.’’

After emerging from their meeting, Abbott addressed Key as his "brother prime minister" and talked about the strong bonds in the trans-Tasman relationship.





"New Zealand is in many respects Australia's closest relationship. We go back a hell of a long way together. New Zealand is family in a way that probably no other country is."





While Key and Abbott have met previously it was their first formal meeting as prime ministers since Abbott's conservative party tipped out the ruling Labor party.





"So I'm really thrilled that John has chosen to come to Australia to touch base with me so early in the life of the new government," he said.





Abbott said he hoped to take Key up on an invitation to visit New Zealand next year.





"I would hope to do that because it's important to keep our relationship in the best possible repair. Just because we are family doesn't mean that we should take each other for granted."





Abbott also praised the Key Government's programme and said it was something his Government hoped to learn from.





"I am impressed with the way the New Zealand Government has created economic growth, pursued very sensible economic policies without in any way engaging in what's become known as austerity. "





Key said the relationship with Australia was "tremendously important - no relationship is more important.''





Abbott was also asked about Australia's boat people policy, which was a centrepiece of his election platform. He visited Indonesia this week to underscore the importance of the policy.

"I don't think anyone in Indonesia is under any illusion about Australia's resolve to stop the boats. This must happen, the boats must stop."

Asked about the Key government's previous commitment to the Julia Gillard-led Labor government to take up to 150 of Australia's boat people each year as asylum seekers, Abbott made it clear he did not want that offer to make Australia look like a soft touch.

"We did canvass the commitment that New Zealand has previously made to help Australia in this respect and we're grateful for New Zealand's help and if and when it becomes necessary, obviously we will call on it."





Earlier Key and Abbott laid a wreath at Canberra’s national war memorial in recognition of the trans-Tasman bond.

Key flew in on a New Zealand Air Force plane for the whistle-stop meeting.