New Zealand may be a little bit closer to getting a government with the three coalition leaders finally sitting down together.
The milestone was reached in Auckland on Wednesday after a dramatic no-show from Winston Peters in the capital on Tuesday.
But it could still take several more days until a deal is done, with the parties involved - National, ACT and New Zealand First - battling substantive disagreements.
There wasn't so much as a wave from incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Wednesday morning as he left his home on his way to the first three-way coalition meeting at an Auckland hotel. At least this time all three leaders actually showed up.
"It was probably about half an hour, enough time for everyone to have their say and have a chat about how things are going and how we'd like things to go in the days to come," ACT leader David Seymour said.
After his pull-out power move, Peters beat his counterpoints to post an image of the meeting first online. Luxon was five minutes later, with a caption including: "Good meeting. There’s still work to do - but making serious progress."
Seymour came in last with the promise ACT would ensure the new Government would be one of "real change".
"We still managed to have a meeting with all three in our home city this morning, so Hakuna Matata," Seymour said.
Seymour left the meeting quickly and then Peters after midday.
Shrouding the meeting in secrecy has done the very thing Luxon wanted to avoid - a total media circus.
That began with a late-night dash back from the capital.
"We've had a great day, we've had a great series of engagements with both parties, it's been fantastic... we are making great progress," Luxon said as he walked through Auckland Airport on Tuesday night.
He was positive, despite being stood up by Peters for what was meant to be their first triple date.
Seymour also had to face the media when he returned on Tuesday.
"Not everyone showed up but, hey, what can you do?"
They've now met at last but without details, so the media and the public are left waiting for any updates.
Seymour said they're trying.
"There are still substantive disagreements where we've got to reach a common ground," he said.
"I think it may still take several days. There are a number of steps in terms of cross checking what everyone's agreed to with everyone else."
