But that did not worry Peters, who anyway was always far more likely to go into a National-led governing arrangement.
Still, Peters looks like paying the price of spending what will surely be his last term in Parliament in Opposition.
For the Greens, the night likewise sentenced them to another three years out in the cold.
But that pales into insignificance when compared to the horror show which is now the Labour Party.
Meanwhile, Internet-Mana look to be history. All evening, Colin Craig's Conservatives flirted with the 5 per cent threshold and were rebuffed.
For Act, Epsom spells survival (again). But to what point?
There is a strong view in the party that being a one-MP party totally reliant on National doing itself and Act a favour serves little purpose.
Time to start a new right-wing party?
Peter Dunne clung on to his Wellington seat. But his party's share of the vote was hitting a risible 0.20 per cent - less than the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party.
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