Key to reveal ministerial positions for minor parties today

Peter Dunne. Photo / Supplied

The Act and United Future parties have settled their confidence and supply agreements with the National Party.

The National Party leader John Key is to sign the agreements this afternoon.

National won 60 seats in the Saturday 26 General Election, and requires at least one more seat to hold a majority, although the party may well lose one seat when special votes are finalised on Saturday.

The Maori Party said it will hold a series of at least 20 hui from today around the country to determine what sort of agreement to enter into with the National Party. It is expected a decision will be made by the end of the week.

Mr Key told Newstalk ZB details on the arrangements will be revealed this afternoon, including any ministerial positions for the minor parties.

"You'll get a bit of a sense where there's work that we are carrying over [from last term], where there's new work, what their responsibilities will be, what they are agreeing to support and in some cases what they are not agreeing to support."

Mr Key would not reveal what ministerial positions would be handed out but all but confirmed Act's John Banks and United Future's Peter Dunne would be ministers.

"I could not see why that would not be the case," he said.

Act's sole MP Mr Banks said the party had no "bottom lines" in their agreement with the National Party, telling Radio New Zealand the deal underpins some the party's important values.

He dismissed the suggestion he was simply a "poodle for the National Party".

"I find that rather gratuitous and it could even be insulting. I'm not a poodle for anyone."