A new prayer for Parliament looks set to fail - with the entire National caucus opposing any change.

Speaker David Carter has proposed making the prayer "less religious" by removing a mention of Jesus Christ, and adding a Maori version for everyday use.

Prime Minister John Key opposes the change and his party's made a submission sharing that view.

"As people know I'm not a deeply religious person, I hardly ever go to church," he says.

"I think my preference would be to leave it as it was."