Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has promised it won't take five months to form a coalition agreement like "other countries that have MMP".
But the National Party leader remained relatively tight-lipped as he emerged from negotiations in Auckland on Thursday night.
It comes after ACT leader David Seymour gave the biggest indication yet a government could be formed by the end of the week - but said who might be deputy Prime Minister remained a talking point.
"I've been saying all week, 'It's possible this week' - and I still believe it's possible this week," Seymour said.
Luxon, emerging from day-long coalition talks after Seymour, said he appreciated Kiwis' patience during negotiations.
"I get where people are at with it but we are in an MMP system - this is the nature of our system," Luxon told reporters.
"If you think about other countries that have MMP, it can take five months to get an agreement together - we definitely don't want that. Rest assured; we won't be doing that."
Asked if there was a chance of no deal being struck and Kiwis heading back to the polls, Luxon said there wasn't.
"I think there's goodwill from all three leaders to make this work in the interests of New Zealand and, I'd have to say, in all my dealings with both political leaders and their respective teams, it has been respectful, it has been professional - we've had direct and upfront conversations but, actually, that's what we want to do."
The incoming Government was "here to do a job for New Zealanders", he said.
"That's what we don't want to lose sight of through this process. I mean, it's not a flippant game that we're playing here - it is actually serious.
"We want to go to work for the New Zealand people... I'm feeling good about it - we have to go through difficult conversations with each other but in that process, we get to know each other more and to understand where everyone's coming from, and we respect each other in the process."
Coalition negotiations have now taken longer than they did after the 2017 election. However, both Luxon and Seymour were adamant good progress was being made.
NZ First leader Winston Peters agreed with that sentiment earlier on Thursday, saying negotiations were in their "final stages".
