National Party leader Christopher Luxon has committed to working with NZ First and Winston Peters if he needs them after the election.
Luxon made the announcement on social media on Monday morning saying his "strong preference" is to form a "strong and stable" two-party coalition government with National and ACT.
"I believe that government would be in the best interests of New Zealanders at this very uncertain time," Luxon said.
But he has now revealed his stance on working with Peters.
"However, if New Zealand First is returned to Parliament, and I need to pick up the phone to Mr Peters to keep Labour and the Coalition of Chaos out, I will make that call. Frankly, I think Chris Hipkins will ultimately do exactly the same thing."
Luxon said this isn't his "preference" but urged voters to vote with National if they want a change of Government.
"We all remember 2017. New Zealand First hasn’t gone with National in 27 years - and could choose Labour again. But that decision is ultimately up to you," Luxon said.
"At the end of the day, elections are about choices. So, if you want to change the government, then I’m asking you to vote for change and choose a better New Zealand."
It comes after the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll earlier this month showed New Zealand First just short of the five percent needed to get back into Parliament.
New Zealand First recorded 4.6 percent up 0.5 points, so still within touching distance of making a return.
ACT and National would have 66 seats - more than enough to get back into Parliament without Peters, based on the poll results.
'Going to be real hard to deal with serious issues' - Seymour
ACT Party leader David Seymour was asked about potentially working with Peters on AM after Luxon revealed his stance.
He told AM co-host Ryan Bridge his preference remains to only work with National if possible – but both parties must remain open-minded.
"You've got to respect the will of the people, you work with the Parliament the people give you, however, you can't trust Winston Peters and a lot of things will be much, much harder than they otherwise would," he said.
It comes after Seymour and Peters went head-to-head during a fiery debate last Thursday night on Newshub Nation Power Brokers Debate.
Seymour said during the debate that Peters has "fallen out with almost everyone he's tried to work with" and continued that tune on AM on Monday.
When asked if he could be around the same cabinet table as Peters, Seymour said he "couldn't see that happening" and he wouldn't want that to happen.
"Chris Luxon and I are saying almost exactly the same thing and I have been saying this for a long time, you've got to work with the cards that you've got, but if one of those cards is the old joker then it's going to be real hard to deal with serious issues," Seymour said.
When asked again about Peters being a cabinet minister, Seymour said he would ask Luxon to "go back and play it a bit harder".
"You've got to remember, you're dealing with someone who has had so many chances to fix all of the things they're now complaining about," he said.
Seymour said he wouldn't risk not changing the Government by not working with Peters but believes New Zealand First won't get the five percent needed to get back into Parliament.
"My suspicion Ryan, is a few people got excited because they polled at five percent," he said.
"My suspicion is a lot of people will say actually look, it's Winny the wasted vote because if he doesn't make five percent our votes wasted and it would be better to vote for a change."
Peters to put 'ego and past behind' and work with ACT and National
Peters told AM Luxon didn't call him before making the announcement on Monday morning but he would "put his ego" aside and work with National and ACT MPs.
"You've got to put your ego and your past behind you. I've done it before," he said.
"I've had people like Jim Bolger sack me three times, but I realised the country is owed at the end a responsibility of a government and a sound stable government and that's what I've tried to work for all of my career."
When asked if he had any desire to be deputy Prime Minister or Foreign Minister in a Luxon-led Government, Peters wouldn't comment on it.
"Anyone who goes into negotiations desiring to advance themselves or get this and that before there's a proper consultation agreement, doesn't know what negotiations are about and doesn't realise how serious the economic and social circumstances are," he said.
"This is a very, very sad circumstance building up, and I just wished that more coverage of the real issues happened rather than this sort of speculation."
When asked by Bridge if he can be trusted, Peters said that "statement" is "deceitful and extreme".
"Ask Helen Clark, Michael Cullen or Jim Bulger who I shook hands with. I never shook hands with Jenny Shipley. She rolled Bulger when they promised me that he'd be the leader for the next three years," he said.
Peters told AM New Zealand is facing some "serious issues" during this election campaign, which are more serious than "they've ever been".
"The one we have to fix before we get to fix the rest is to restore the fundamental principles of our democracy where each vote is equal. If we don't do that, then we will not fix the rest up, so that is the number one issue that New Zealand First is making it very clear on," he said.
"We have to ensure that a democracy that began in 1854 goes on and it's not destroyed by this duality or co-government and things like that. It's a matter of democracy first."
