In an interview on Tony Veitch's Radio Sport breakfast show on Friday, Mr Key was asked if he would like to be Australian cricketer Shane Warne, and replied: "Yeah, well given his current liaisons with Liz Hurley."
"I like Liz Hurley actually. I reckon she is hot," Mr Key said.
He later said actress Jessica Alba "looked pretty hot", and described Angelina Jolie as "not too bad" either.
Green MP Sue Kedgley, a women's rights campaigner, told Sunday News Mr Key's comments were boorish and unbecoming of a prime minister.
"He is obviously trying to appeal to a sporting audience, but it does sound a bit odd to be going on and on about women who are 'hot', etc," she said.
British website Mail Online was today running a story titled "Liz Hurley is hot': New Zealand PM slammed over 'sexist' remarks", which said Mr Key's comments had sparked a "sexist row".
