Peters set to answer coalition questions

Winston Peters

The New Zealand First caucus has been called to a special meeting in Rotorua tomorrow morning, hours before leader Winston Peters makes a speech about post-election intentions.

The meeting is expected to endorse a new position - to begin talks with the party that receives the largest number of votes at the election on September 17.

Mr Peters is also expected to set down a series of conditions for New Zealand First's support centred around its five key policy areas this election: Treaty of Waitangi, immigration, law and order, the elderly and economic nationalism.

His notice for tomorrow's speech says he will be "addressing the question that has been obsessing the media and preventing New Zealand First's message from being heard, so that the campaign can become focused on the issues that really matter to New Zealand".

The party's 13 MPs will hope that settling its post-election position will arrest its poll slide to below the 5 per cent threshold and give it greater relevance in the campaign.

Earlier in the campaign, Mr Peters suggested his party might stay outside of coalition Government and sit on the cross benches.

But there have been differences within the party about what "cross-benches" mean. Some believed it was no different to what it does now, effectively sit in Opposition; others, including Mr Peters, believed it was akin to United Future's position, not in coalition but having some influence on Government through a confidence and supply agreement.

The position of beginning talks with the party with the largest number of votes is also one that United Future used last election and this election, and has been criticised by Mr Peters in the past as having no particular logic.

But unlike Mr Peters, United Future leader Peter Dunne has not been plagued with questions about who his party might go with, despite also being willing to go with National or Labour.

Mr Peters was plagued by coalition questions during the 1996 campaign; was out of contention in the 1999 campaign and was ruled out by Labour as a partner in the final days of the 2002 campaign.

Yesterday Mr Peters brushed off polls putting him behind National candidate Bob Clarkson in Tauranga.

Come election day the tables would be turned, "mark my words", he said.

NZ FIRST'S OPTIONS

* Favour coalition with National
No. Would scare off Labour leaners.

* Favour coalition with Labour
No. Would scare off National leaners.

* Support either on confidence supply
Unlikely. Too much uncertainty. Little different to its present position.

* Support none.
Most unlikely. A position of irrelevance.

* Begin talks for a confidence and supply agreement with the party with the largest votes.
Probable. Removes uncertainty. Should take the issue off the agenda but allows flexibility.