Everything quiet on the political front

Political leaders have been told by their close staff to take a break before talks on forming the Government begin again.

Caretaker Prime Minister Helen Clark was at home in Auckland yesterday and her spokesman said no talks were taking place.

Helen Clark will deliver a post-election speech in Rotorua today but she will not be spelling out the shape of the next Government as that has to wait until special votes have been counted and the final result declared tomorrow week.

A spokesman for National leader Don Brash said he was also at home in Auckland and had been told by staff to rest and recuperate from long days campaigning.

A spokesman for New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he had left Wellington and was not expected back until next week. With any luck, once a few jobs had been done, Mr Peters might get a break.

Green Party MPs have also left Wellington and are not expected back until next week.

United Future leader Peter Dunne was still in his office but his spokesman said no talks were planned.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia was in her office, involved in internal party planning.

The party is training its three newcomers in how to be efficient, effective MPs, Mrs Turia's spokeswoman said.

Other new MPs, in Wellington on Wednesday for a welcome-to-Parliament session, have already returned home.

On Monday and Tuesday, Helen Clark met her potential allies or support partners, and Dr Brash also touched base with the leaders of the smaller parties.

Only one seat separates the two big parties - Labour has 50 and National 49 - and Dr Brash is refusing to concede defeat. He is counting on a change from the special votes.

Helen Clark has already secured an assurance from Mr Peters that his party would not bring down a Government she formed.

The Greens, with New Zealand First and Jim Anderton's Progressive Party, give Labour 64 seats, two more than is needed to rule the 122-seat Parliament.

Labour is also talking to United Future, with its three MPs, and the Maori Party with four.

But yesterday even the parliamentary rumour mill went quiet.

On Wednesday, with talks left to officials and no major developments, a number of rumours were circulating.

Peter Dunne said a suggestion that he could be given a ministerial post outside Cabinet to secure his party's three votes was "news to me".

He would not comment on whether that was what he wanted.

Greens co-leader Rod Donald scotched a rumour that his party and the Maori Party had already signed a deal with Labour.

New Zealand First dismissed speculation that it had asked for two Cabinet posts, despite its pre-election pledge that it would not go into any coalition.

- NZPA