The Government will spend $50 million over three years on the national cycleway project, Prime Minister John Key said today.

The money will be spent by his tourism ministry on a series of regional bike tracks, Mr Key told a tourism conference in Auckland.

"I propose to create a series of 'Great Rides' of New Zealand, with a long-term aim of creating a network throughout the country," Mr Key said.

"Some promising routes have already been identified and I expect to have announcement on them in the next couple of months."

Mr Key, who is also tourism minister, said the $50m would create jobs through design and construction, while creating a "high-quality tourism asset".

An advisory group would be set up to look at regional cycleway proposals and work with those regions on feasibility work and technical advice.

Finance Minister Bill English had appeared to pour cold water on the cycleway earlier this year, saying there would not be large amounts of money spent on it this year, or in coming years.

He told Parliament yesterday there would be an announcement shortly that would show who was boss.