As the nation stands by and waits for Winston Peters to make his deciding move on a government to lead New Zealand, former party presidents have warned patience is needed, and the outcome can't be predicted.
On TVNZ1's Breakfast this morning, former National Party president Michelle Boag and former Labour Party president Mike Williams revealed just what the parties would have to bring to the table to sway poker-face Peters.
Mr Williams cited a mutual policy focus on forestry as a potential push towards Labour, and Ms Boag said the comfortable election-night majority could pull him back to National.
However, it's a waiting game to find out who Mr Peters will choose.
"Wait, relax, we can't affect the outcome, you just have to be patient," Ms Boag said.
Winston Peters will meet with the parties today, but insists no serious decisions will be made before the special votes are counted on Sunday.
Ms Boag said Mr Peters' bottom-line demands during the election are "completely irrelevant".
"In any negotiation there will be give and take. I think everything is on the table, it's very open," she said.
As Mr Peters intended to have coalition talks after the special vote results are announced on October 7, Mr Williams said the pre-emptive talks have the function of "assuring the population that something is happening towards the formation of a government".
"We really don't know the outcome of the election until Saturday afternoon," he said.
Mr Peters will be meeting with National this morning, and Labour this afternoon.
He said a decision would be made by October 12.
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