Call this the week of Winston Peters - with the New Zealand First leader, riding a wave of renewed relevancy.

"In the end, the voters of this country will decide this issue. Not politicians and certainly not the media" - Winston Peters

What a week for Winston.

In not one, but two TV polls, New Zealand First featured above that critical 5 percent threshold - and furthermore in that most pivotal of spots - necessary for National to form a government.

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On Monday, Christopher Luxon acknowledged the state of play - explicitly ruling in New Zealand First as a potential partner - after weeks of implicitly doing so. A double-edged message from the National leader - a reluctant yes to New Zealand First - but an effective plea to voters - I'll make that call if I have to, but please don't make me.

But this sort of profile and attention is exactly what Peters wants - a platform with which to break back into Parliament. Yet another resurrection.

It's also what Labour wants - and needs right now - as it continues to slide in popularity - wallowing in the mid-20s on current polling - with no road to power.

Chris Hipkins knows he needs a circuit-breaker - and he seized on National's announcement as a potential one - throwing that Coalition of Chaos line back at his opponents. He brought a new fervour to Newshub's head-to-head leaders' debate on Wednesday - their second match-up - and a far more fiery one than the first.

As for Peters, he says desperation is driving Labour to dirty tactics.

And don't forget - next week marks the start of early voting in New Zealand - the runway fast running out for all political parties.

In Focus on Politics this week, RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch breaks down the latest week of the election campaign, a week where Winston Peters came to the fore.

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Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details