With NZ First holding all the cards as formal negotiations get underway following the announcement of the special votes on the weekend, the National and Labour parties have been left "scared" says 1 NEWS political reporter Katie Bradford.
Speaking to TVNZ1's Breakfast programme this morning Ms Bradford said NZ First has complete control of not only who the next government will be but also the negotiation process.
"Winston Peters and NZ First have all the control.
"At the moment NZ First is dictating when the meetings are, where they are."
Ms Bradford says some political commentators have called into question the lack of rules surrounding how these sorts of negotiations are set as well as media restrictions surrounding these negotiations.
The media has been increasingly restricted to limited parts of parliament as negotiations between the parties are held.
1 NEWS political reporter and press gallery chair Katie Bradford says she's working to resolve some of the restrictions. (Source: Other)
These restrictions are what Ms Bradford is hoping to resolve as Press Gallery chair, in order to inform the public about the negotiating process and who is involved.
"Our job is to show the public what's happening here - we're not standing outside a meeting room trying to eavesdrop or put a camera through the door."
Mr Peters will be searching out the media come Thursday when he is expected to announce who NZ First will be joining forces with.
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