"Richard Prebble's carefully faked refusal to deal with New Zealand First must be recognised as yet another two-faced attempt to con the public," says Labour deputy leader Michael Cullen.

"Prebble blusters about taking a stand against Winston Peters and NZ First but is always careful to leave a gap for his little band of rats to squirm through if they sniff power.

"Prebble has never ruled out forming a coalition with National and accepting NZ First's support from the cross-benches. Nor has he ruled out supporting a National minority government if NZ First supports it as well.

"With these options open, Prebble's anti-Winston posturing is a devious charade. If he needs NZ First support to be Deputy Prime Minister he will snatch it quicker than a starving weasel. He just doesn't want New Zealand voters to know that.

"Prebble had the nerve to ask yesterday for the public's trust. A more untrustworthy, unprincipled, manipulative, scheming, devious party than Act would be hard to find."

© Scoop Media