Major change coming no matter who is in power: Winston Peters

Winston Peters is pledging a major change in the way the country is run - no matter which party will lead the next Government.

And despite the secrecy surrounding the Beehive talks, Peters confirmed he would expect changes to the laws around foreign ownership.

He also revealed New Zealand First would not meet with the Greens, and nor did it expect to be told about that party's discussions with Labour.

Peters and his team have stepped up the pace of negotiations with two long sessions with National yesterday and one with Labour. He is expecting two further sessions with each side today, kicking off with Labour at 9.30am and National at midday.

He told media the negotiating teams were working on policy only - and what his party would settle for would be of major consequence for the country.

"These talks are about a change in the way this country is run. Both economically and socially."

Asked about the sale of ANZ subsidiary UDC Finance to China's HNA Group, Peters said the sell-off of New Zealand interests to overseas buyers was the "continuing story of this country's decline since the 14th of July, 1984".

Foreign ownership issues would be part of the talks, Peters confirmed.

A Labour-led Government will require a governing framework or agreement involving NZ First and the Green Party.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern and others from her party met Greens leader James Shaw and his negotiators yesterday while Peters met with National's team, headed by Bill English.

Peters made it clear he wouldn't be dealing with the Greens directly or indirectly - saying Labour hadn't disclosed discussions with the Greens, and nor would he want that.

"They haven't. And we would not ask because it is not our business," Peters said.

"We will be talking to whoever is standing up from the Labour and National Party."

Peters believed his party was on track to meet its self-imposed deadline to make a decision by Thursday on who it will work with in Government.

The NZ First team for the second meeting with National yesterday included new MP Shane Jones, recently back in the country after time spent overseas. Peters declined to comment on the personnel in his team, saying it was "neither here nor there".

Similar policy areas were being covered with Labour and National, Peters said.

"It is not a game of tennis here, or ping pong. It is different discussions with different parties."

After a second meeting yesterday, English said talks had been "constructive" and they were making progress. "It's good."

Ardern said yesterday's two-and-a-half-hour meeting with NZ First was "really positive", and involved "quite a bit of policy detail".

She said she would continue to meet the Greens between meetings with NZ First.

"We're using the time in between to make sure that we're prepared for each period of negotiation as it comes."

Included in Labour's negotiation team yesterday was senior MP David Parker, who is the party's foreign affairs and environment spokesman, and led work on the proposed water royalty.

During the campaign Peters supported a charge on water bottlers, but promised to oppose the introduction of a charge on farmers.