Dunne regrets not sending stronger signals

United Future leader Peter Dunne says he could have sent stronger signals during the election campaign that the party could have worked with National.

However the MP, who is committed to talking to the party with the largest number of votes to help form a government, denies his comments mean he wanted National to win the election.

In comments broadcast on National Radio yesterday, Mr Dunne said: "In retrospect, had we said that rather than just 'we could not foresee any difficulties' working with National, we were more actively disposed towards working with them, in the context of the election that might have been beneficial.

"But then the point I also have to make is that for everyone that comes in that door there's someone that goes out the door because you've made that call, and that's the nature of being a centre party."

His comments come as the country awaits the counting of special votes.

The Chief Electoral Office, which is supervising the count, said yesterday that the final result would be released at 11am tomorrow.

Mr Dunne's party, which was cut from eight to three MPs, has said it will talk to the largest party, at the moment Labour. National has refused to concede, hoping either that it will overtake Labour or that the Greens will not make it.

Mr Dunne yesterday denied his comments could be taken as regret that National had not beaten Labour.

He also denied he was blaming the collapse in United Future's vote on not giving its potential supporters a clearer steer about the party's post-election intentions.

Mr Dunne said his comments should not be taken as indicating that talks with Labour would start on a "prejudiced basis" next week.

Former United Future MP Marc Alexander, who just missed out on re-election, blasted the party this week, saying that when "push came to shove" people had wanted a clear line on whether it was closely affiliated with Labour or National.

"People actually wanted an opinion. They didn't want us to squirm and say we would go with whoever is bigger. In my opinion that's a real cop-out."

Mr Dunne met Dr Brash in Auckland during the campaign for a widely publicised cup of tea to highlight his party's ability to work with National.

For some that may have not been a strong enough signal, Mr Dunne said.