Epsom electorate: it's 'tea' day today

John Key and John Banks. File photo / Norrie Montgomery

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Today's expected to be the day the two Johns key to the Epsom electorate will sit down for a cup of tea.

After weeks of speculation, Act candidate John Banks will this afternoon sit down for what's been billed a "catch up", but will signal Prime Minister John Key wants his supporters to vote for Mr Banks.

A Herald Digi-Poll survey out today puts Act on 1.5 per cent support, which means the party would exit parliament if Mr Banks can't win the Epsom seat.

A public meeting could be what's needed to turn around its ailing fortunes.

Mr Banks told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme he was looking forward to the meeting with Mr Key this afternoon.

But he also said he's not complacent about his position.

"This is going to be a hard fought battle here in Epsom. I've got a lot of work to do."

Meanwhile National's Epsom candidate Paul Goldsmith has appeared to avoid all human contact as he continued his campaign to be the non-face of the electorate.

The current frontrunner for the crucial Epsom seat seemed to only engage with letterboxes yesterday, choosing to post party leaflets in Remuera alone.

Mr Goldsmith's election would likely spell the end of the Act Party from Parliament, a result National is keen to avoid. National has indicated it only wants the party vote in the region.

Asked whether he would be disappointed if he secured the electorate vote, Mr Goldsmith was dismissive: "My main focus is the party vote. It is up to the people of Epsom."

Many staunch Labour Party supporters were changing colours to vote for Mr Goldsmith to kick the Act Party out of Parliament.

Despite being an Act candidate, Mr Banks has tried to tap into the popularity of the Prime Minister, saying he was presenting "Brand Key" to his electorate. But he denied that he was distancing himself from Act leader Don Brash, or undermining his party's brand.

In Hamilton yesterday Dr Brash also rejected the notion that Mr Banks was mollycoddling to the National Party. He said he and Mr Banks did not meet very often for discussions but "we talk on the phone almost every day".

"He's an Act member of the party, he is number four on our list and he remains very strong and committed to the party."

In a tight election race, an endorsement for Mr Banks from National could be the difference between the Act Party's re-election or failure.

Dr Brash said an endorsement from Mr Key was "something we would welcome". But he noted that Epsom residents voted strategically in 2005 without National's encouragement.

Mr Banks said he was not dwelling on whether John Key would back his campaign.

He campaigned with an interpreter yesterday to assist his discussion with Asian voters, who traditionally backed National.

Former National Party president John Slater was in no doubt that Mr Key would offer Mr Banks a cup of tea - a subtle nod of endorsement for the Act Party.

"National's traditionally been trying to build potential coalition partners rather than trying to destroy them. I'm almost sure the PM will [offer Act an endorsement] next week or the week after."

He did not believe it would backfire on Mr Key.

Online prediction market iPredict showed that an endorsement was likely, but some uncertainty remained. The market had a 93 per cent certainty that Mr Key would back Mr Banks, but that has now fallen to 84 per cent.