New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has made the clearest statement yet of with whom he will be prepared to work after Saturday's election, and it is not the Greens.
And he made his strongest case yet for becoming deputy prime minister in either a National-led or Labour-led government, given the chance.
His support of Labour finance spokesman David Parker as a future finance minister will place Labour leader David Cunliffe in an awkward position if he requires Mr Peters' support to form the next government.
The Greens could again be kept out of government, offering support from the cross-benches without seats in Cabinet.
Or New Zealand First could operate in combination with Labour in coalition or confidence and supply, thereby placing pressure on Prime Minister John Key to come up with incentives on Saturday to attract Mr Peters to support National, if required.
Mr Peters indicated he would also support Finance Minister Bill English to remain in his role, should Mr Key form the next government.
Some of the alternatives being offered to voters in the election were a serious cause for concern, he said.
''In this campaign, the Green Party has twice - for reasons best known to them - in essence led an assault on the Labour Party.''
First, the Greens called for an audit of Labour's alternative budgetary proposals, prepared by finance spokesman David Parker.
''Then they said on September 12 they could negotiate with National.''
When Mr Parker was attacked by a former business partner alleging a breach of the law, Mr Peters said he was the first MP to back Labour's deputy leader because Mr Peters believed he was a man of honour and integrity.
''I gave that support from the Opposition benches and although he had to step down from his ministerial post and was a victim of unfair vilification by the media, I do not resile from that support.''
The Companies Office had not destroyed a document critical to Mr Parker's defence, even though nine years had elapsed from the date of that document, Mr Peters said.
The document totally exonerated Mr Parker but he had suffered in the meantime through gross unfairness of treatment and personal humiliation.
Also, Mr Peters said he observed Mr English's conduct regarding the allegations in Dirty Politics and his reserve in the defence of former justice minister Judith Collins.
''In addition of the question of tax cuts by National, Mr English's aversion to claiming they were possible is further evidence to me that, like Mr Parker, he has a certain integrity and honour.
''Consequently, I see both of them as capable of being ministers of finance.''
However, Mr Peters then got stuck into the Greens, reminding voters co-leaders Russel Norman and Metiria Turei had been talking about being co-deputy prime ministers and wanting the finance portfolio.
''If the Greens think they are going to take over the levers of economic management, they are assuming other parties are not watching their record,'' he said.
''Voters need to be disabused of the view promoted by the Greens that we in NZ First would stand by while they promote extremist policies in government.''
