So what advantage does Winston Peters give himself by ruling out Labour after the election?

His famous trick, if that’s what you want to call it, was to play guessing games. He always said the voters would decide, which of course they never did. The voters voted and then Peters decided based on what he wanted to do.

By ruling out Labour this time is he playing a new trick? He ruled "this lot" out. Who are "this lot?” Labour? Or just a few of the Labour leadership? In other words, is there wriggle room here? Or are we supposed to take him at his word?

He will not be doing a deal with Labour. He is also not doing a deal with the Maori Party. That doesn't really matter because the Maori Party and the Labour Party for the sake of deals are the same party. He's also had trouble with ACT in the past. Or was it that ACT had trouble with New Zealand First?

So if ACT rules out New Zealand First, where does that leave National? National have previously ruled out New Zealand First but that was another day, different leadership.

Although you would have to think that if they ruled him out now, that's him stuck. That is why he might have made an error ruling out Labour.

Why are you voting for a party that, famously, keeps them honest, if neither major party wants to touch you? You have no deals and therefore you are a minor player that makes no difference at all.

In a crapshoot type of result, it is possible that New Zealand First is needed, by either party, and they play the cross bench game.

In other words it's a minority government, needing the Winston tick on individual bits of law.

The odds of that happening are slim to say the least, and certainly not something you would want to campaign and bank on if you were Peters. And that's before you get to the age old issue of New Zealand First. Having seen them run around the mulberry bush with all and sundry many a time, just what is it that’s left that excites you? Why are you looking at that tired old mess yet again?

Don’t get me wrong in ruling out Labour he's made a sensible call, who would work with them again?

But, talk about limiting your options.