Peters keeps the pressure on Clark

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is understood to have met National and Labour at Parliament yesterday as Labour attempts to close its deals on forming a Government.

Neither Dr Don Brash nor Mr Peters would confirm a meeting took place, or what they discussed.

Dr Brash said later that he was not getting into the "nitty gritty" of negotiations with any of the leaders but was keeping the lines of communication open in case Labour failed to form a Government.

"We are not getting into detailed points at this stage," the National leader told the Herald. "I don't think we can do anything as tangible as get an alternative ready to go.

"But it is important that other parties know that National is willing to talk to them if they want to talk to us."

It is possible Dr Brash has been meeting the leaders Labour is courting, ostensibly to seek support for his list MP Clem Simich as Speaker.

Mr Peters met Labour deputy Michael Cullen yesterday and is expected to update his New Zealand First caucus on the Labour talks at a meeting this morning.

Prime Minister Helen Clark met United Future leader Peter Dunne, Greens co-leaders Rod Donald and Jeanette Fitzsimons, and Progressives leader Jim Anderton.

The Green caucus is also meeting in Wellington today.

With seven votes, Mr Peters' role in Government formation is already important for Labour - and increases dramatically if United Future and the Maori Party decide to oppose Labour on confidence and supply, which is highly possible.

Labour would then need New Zealand First's positive vote - not just its abstention - and that increases New Zealand First's bargaining power.

Mr Dunne did not return calls last night but talking to reporters yesterday he put a long time-frame on the talks, saying he hoped there would be some finality "within the next couple of weeks".

The Labour caucus is on standby to come to Wellington this week to have a deal presented to it.

That could happen as early as tomorrow but could be delayed if New Zealand First decides to try to extract greater concessions from Labour for a positive vote.

Meanwhile, the four Maori Party MPs met in Wellington yesterday to discuss their consultation hui in the seven Maori seats over the position it should take.

What is clear from a press statement issued in the name of Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira is that the MPs believe the hui empowered them to do what they believed was best.

"The people consistently expressed their confidence in us, the four Maori MPs, to deliver the best deal that we could for our people."

He also specified three policy priorities: the Foreshore and Seabed Bill, the constitutional status of the Treaty of Waitangi and preparation for the Maori option to be exercised next year - the next year in which Maori have a chance to determine which electoral roll they will go on - and how many Maori seats there will be.

Counting the days

* 26 days since the September 17 election and Government construction talks started.

* 12 days since final results were declared on October 1 and National leader Don Brash conceded defeat to Labour leader Helen Clark.