NZ hopeful Australian economy can pick up

New Zealand's finance minister is hopeful the Australian economy can recover because it will benefit both countries.

As the Kiwi dollar nears parity with the Aussie, New Zealand's finance minister hopes the Australian economy can recover from a slow patch.

Bill English believes the economy across the ditch is "not looking so good" at the moment, especially compared with his own.

NZ wanted a strong Australian economy in the long run because it benefited its trans-Tasman neighbour, he told ABC radio on Friday.