Post-election deals discussed

Maori party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples and National Party leader John Key. File photo / Steven McNicholl

The Maori Party's co-leaders have made an early exit from talks with re-elected Prime Minister John Key on a possible post-election deal.

Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia arrived at the Beehive after 3pm, but stayed for only part of the meeting on possible coalition arrangements.

Party president Pem Bird and Vice president Ken Mair were left to continue negotiations with National.

Mrs Turia said the reason for leaving it to party officials was that the MPs worked for the party.

It would be the party and members who would decide whether to enter another confidence and supply agreement.

She and Dr Sharples might rejoin negotiations at a later stage.

United Future leader Peter Dunne and lone Act candidate John Banks completed meetings with Mr Key earlier this afternoon.

When questioned on whether he could get a ministerial post in the National Government, Mr Banks joked that the finance minister position sounded "pretty good".

His call was met by laughter from Mr Key.

Mr Banks said limiting the role of Government in business and cutting expenditure were Act priorities.

Mr Dunne was first to sit down with Mr Key.

Heading into the meeting, he was tightlipped about what he hoped to get out of it.

"We'll have a good chat and I guess things will just take their course from there. I'm going to talk about the election I guess," he says.

Following the meeting, he did not give details about the agreement he's seeking, but said he would be seeking policy gains.

Mr Key said the sit downs are an opportunity to put issues on the table.

"To explore areas of interest where we've worked in the past and might go in the future, where we have common interest and start negotiations for what will hopefully be a completed deal."