Opposition parties were still demanding concessions late on Thursday from the government, which needs their votes to pass its covert surveillance bill.
Three minor parties have rejected it but Labour or ACT could give the government a majority on the bill - if it agrees to send the legislation to a select committee.
Attorney-General Chris Finlayson needs at least 62 votes and so far has 59. ACT's five would give him a bare majority while Labour's 42 would deliver strong support.
He will bring the bill to parliament next week under urgency, in a move to sidestep a Supreme Court ruling and ensure police have authority to conduct covert video surveillance on private property.
The plan doesn't include sending it to a select committee, which would delay it, but Labour and ACT say it's essential for expert opinions to be heard.
Government sources told NZN no progress was made on Thursday but there was still time to strike a deal before Parliament sits on Tuesday.
Parliament has only six sitting days left before it adjourns ahead of the November 26 election.
Mr Finlayson earlier said he was prepared to consider sending the bill to a select committee, if it could still be passed quickly.
But that concession alone might not satisfy Labour, which says the bill's provisions are too wide.
The party's justice spokesman, Charles Chauvel, says he will write to Mr Finlayson on Friday.
He says agreement on a select committee process might be enough to persuade his caucus colleagues to back the bill on its first reading.
The Maori Party, the Greens and the Mana Party say they won't vote for the bill under any circumstances.
NZN