By Duncan Garner
The Green Party is at a record high in our latest 3 News Reid Research poll.
Now both Green and National voters say they would like the two parties to enter a formal coalition deal after the next election.
But Greens co-leader Russel Norman says it is still unlikely.
Despite the rugby, Mr Norman refuses to accept the election campaign has not begun – he has been out promoting electric motorbikes.
And the Greens have raced ahead of other smaller parties, polling close to 10 percent - a record high.
We asked voters that if John Key opened the door to a formal coalition deal with the Greens - should the Greens say yes.
- 55 percent said yes
- 30 percent said no
But a breakdown of the votes into a party-by-party basis tells a different story.
Amongst Green voters:
- 60 percent said yes
- 27 percent no
Amongst National voters:
- 63 percent said yes
- 25 percent said no
This shows remarkable support for a formal deal - from both National and Green voters.
The Greens formally voted on a motion earlier this year, leaving the door slightly open for a formal deal with National - but at the same time saying it's "highly unlikely”.
Mr Norman says a deal on policy is more likely than a formal coalition arrangement with National.
We also asked should the Greens become ministers with Greens voters overwhelmingly saying yes, it is time and just 12 percent said no.
But National voters were more wary, just 20 percent said yes, 56 percent said no.
So the Greens are on the rise, now they have to work out just how to play their cards.
3 News