A week after the election the result of our minor parties have been clinically analysed, with a couple tasting success but that wasn't the case for all minor parties. 

The Green Party and ACT had a strong result, but we saw NZ First with just 2.7% of the votes, while other minor parties such as New Conservatives and The Opportunities Party registered only 1.5% of the votes. 

New Zealand First's being told it needs to reinvent itself.

The party's bowed out of Parliament, after not reaching the five percent threshold.

Former United Future leader, Peter Dunne told Francesca Rudkin New Zealand First's constituency is literally dying off, so it has to attract new support.

And he says Winston Peters' message has had its day.

Dunne says the party's going to have to reform itself with new people and new ideas that are more in tune with the 2020s, rather than the 1970s.

On the survival for minor parties, Dunne says it is vital for the party to have a sitting member in parliament for it to get into government. 

He says none of the minor parties have achieved this without having a member in parliament. 

Although Dunne admits the tough survival of minor parties, he says they do hold importance in the system. Minor parties could voice for the people who cannot choose between Labour or National.  

Dunne says now probably is not the right time for minor parties to have a major impact... but their time will come.

He says for a minor party to really succeed it is important to have an issue and its about making an impact at a particular time. 

"The Greens have got a wonderful issue, its the environment all round... its really made for them and anything that's got a environmental flavour to it they can claim as their own."

He also complimented the ACT party for making decisions based on studied facts and has established themselves as a party who acts on the bases of evidence.  

 

LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE AS PETER DUNNE JOINS FRANCESCA RUDKIN.