The Greens are brushing off Newshub's revelation Labour won't be forming a coalition with them, adamant there's still negotiating to be done.
But Labour leader Jacinda Ardern doesn't see it that way, dubbing her meeting with Green Party co-leaders a conversation - not a negotiation.
"The dream is to form a Government," Green Party co-leader James Shaw said on Wednesday after wrapping up a meeting - alongside co-leader Marama Davidson - with Jacinda Ardern.
"What was on the table was Krispies and cup of tea and coffee," Davidson said after the meeting, when asked what was on the negotiating table.
The Greens scoring a biscuit but are likely to be served crumbs after Newshub revealed on Tuesday that a formal coalition between Labour and the Greens is off the table.
"There is a negotiation going on during which discussion are being had," Shaw said.
The Greens are calling it a negotiation but the Prime Minister is describing it a conversation.
"That is a semantic distinction," Shaw argued.
Ardern described the meeting as "very constructive" when Newshub caught up with her at the airport in Wellington.
The Prime Minister has indicated she wants to govern with consensus.
"We've got a really constructive working relationship there," Shaw said. "Labour and the Green Party share a vision for the future of the country and the question: is how can we help achieve that vision?"
But the House is lit up red with 22 new MPs joining Parliament from the Labour Party. It has 64 seats - an outright majority - it doesn't need the Greens.
"Everyone knows what the numbers are," Davidson said, when it was put to her that the Greens don't have any leverage.
The Greens do have the option to turn down a deal - sit down on the crossbenches and avoid the minor party curse of being swallowed by the major governing partner.
"We're always cognizant of the risks but those have always been true," Shaw said. "Nothing has changed in 20 years... We have to look at the pros and cons of all of the options on the table in front of us."
ACT leader David Seymour had some advice for the Greens.
"If I was the Green Party I would resist the urge to be hugged to death by Labour but it looks like they're going to fall for it - that's their problem."
Shaw smiled when asked if Labour is going to hug the Greens to death.
"No, they're going to be kind."
Seymour is possibly best to focus on his own problems. He suddenly has a caucus of 10 who didn't necessarily think they would be there.
ACT's new caucus posed for a photo outside Parliament on Wednesday where they were asked by Newshub which of them thought they would be an MP.
"Everybody, absolutely," Seymour said on their behalf.
And despite joining Seymour - who shepherded the End of Life Choice Act through as a Private Members' Bill - they haven't got any ideas. Asked which of them has an idea for a Members' Bill, there was silence.
All the newbies are currently going through the induction - a kind of parliamentary prep school. After graduation - and once the novelty wears off - the senior school gets back and it's all on.
The Prime Minister has flown back to Auckland to mull things over and take some time out over Labour weekend.
The negotiations, or conversation, with the Greens will resume on Tuesday.
