Newshub has obtained a clip of New Zealand First MP Ron Mark saying he's not even asking people to vote for the party anymore - he just wants the electorate vote in Wairarapa.
It comes as new polling shows ACT soaring to new heights while his political foes are in free-fall. ACT is scooping up New Zealand First votes.
"New Zealand First have no hope," leader David Seymour said.
National leader Judith Collins has called on ACT to smash New Zealand First to smithereens.
"They have two jobs, one is to win Epsom and the other is to take out the rest of New Zealand First's vote," Collins said earlier this week.
"Just shows what a lovely kind-hearted person Judith is," New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said in response on Thursday.
New Zealand First isn't polling high enough to get back into Parliament and it appears Mark has given up.
Newshub has obtained audio of the Wairarapa candidate telling a town hall Featherston debate with opponents that he's not even interested in the party vote.
"I'm not going to be greedy like Kieran (McAnulty, Labour's candidate) and Mike (Butterick, National's candidate) and ask for two ticks. Leave that party vote in your head. But I do want your constituency vote this time."
Peters responded on Thursday, saying: "In the main we're all campaigning for the party vote."
Mark has backed down from his comments.
"I need the party vote to get me back into Parliament... My heart's in the Wairarapa but my heads in the party."
New Zealand First weren't the only ones backing the bus up on Thursday, with Green co-leader James Shaw forced to walk back a bottom line after Green MP Julie Anne Genter said a wealth tax would be essential to get the Greens support to form a Government.
"She did use the term bottom line and that's not what the Green Party does," Shaw told Newshub.
Peters laughed when Newshub asked if the Greens know how to do a bottom line.
Shaw had a different view.
"We don't go into elections with bottom lines as some parties do."
