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New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has accused some political parties of panicking as the polls turn against Labour, and insists he will stand firm until the next election, after which he plans to again talk first to the party that wins the most votes.
In what appeared a veiled reference to United Future leader Peter Dunne's unusual speech this week, Mr Peters yesterday told North Shore's Grey Power group that "political parties either start to strut or panic" when there is a sizeable shift in the polls.
"It resembles nothing so much as the lunatics taking over the asylum," he said.
United Future's leader on Tuesday raised eyebrows by blasting Labour for taking his party for granted, and made overtures to National.
Mr Peters was having none of that, inviting the audience to "look into my eyes - does this look like the face of a worried man?"
New Zealand First is struggling in the polls, registering a rating of 3.2 per cent support in the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey.
Unless it can win an electorate seat, the party needs to get over the 5 per cent threshold to ensure it gets back into Parliament. On the positive side, in the same poll Mr Peters registered 5.4 per cent support as preferred Prime Minister, suggesting there is some hope of getting over the threshold.
Mr Peters yesterday bluntly rejected rumours in Wellington that Labour might look to assist him to win an electorate seat.
"No special deals and no safe seats - at least not until we have them safe on our own merits after the election," Mr Peters said.
He also fired a shot at National leader John Key, saying the public has not yet seen the substance to back his "cat who stole the cream" smile.
Exuding confidence that he will again lead his party into Parliament next year, Mr Peters said New Zealand First would deal "in the first instance with the party with the most seats - as long as they agree to policy concessions commensurate with our support".
