A retired businessman in Hampshire is celebrating the election results in New Zealand after discovering that he is the long-lost half-brother of John Key, the Prime Minister-elect.

Martyn Key, 69, was unaware of his sibling until a genealogist tracked him down to his Southsea home three months ago. He followed the results closely as the National party swept to victory with 45.5 per cent of the vote.

Martyn, who has never met his half-brother, said: “It is great news but I am still a little shell-shocked to discover I am related to a politician, and a Prime Minister at that. I am incredibly proud and I have sent him a couple of e-mails to wish him congratulations and I am sure once all the excitement dies down he will be on the phone.

“When the genealogist knocked on my door I did not know how to react.

Next thing I know, my half-sister Liz is in touch and I find out who John is. At the moment it is all a little surreal.”

Martyn’s connection to John is through his father, George, who left the family in the 1950s and remarried in New Zealand before having three more children – including John. “I had heard of other children but out of respect for our mother we did not talk about it,” Martyn said.

“New Zealand is a place I would love to go but I think we will need to win the lottery. Who knows, we could get a state visit one day.”

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