The Prime Minister's disappointed by public criticism from one of the country's most acclaimed writers.

Eleanor Catton has told media in India that the New Zealand government's failing to support up-and-coming writers.

She said the country's run by neo-liberal, profit-obsessed, very shallow, often very money-hungry politicians, who don't care about culture.

John Key's brushing off the remarks.

"I'm disappointed if she doesn't have respect for the work we do, because I have tremendous respect for the work she does as a writer, and that's why I think she's so widely acclaimed and won the Booker Prize."