Mr Cunliffe officially resigns from his role as leader of the Labour Party today.
He told Radio New Zealand this morning that he wasn't certain he has the support of the majority of the Labour caucus, but that wasn't influencing his decision to contest the leadership.
"It is my strongly held view that at the end of the day we need to bring the caucus and the party together," he said.
He said there were a "wide range of views expressed" in a seven-hour caucus meeting following the election result.
Labour secured 24.69 per cent of the vote, a result Mr Cunliffe called "horrific".
When asked whether he had the support of caucus he said: "I don't know that I do."
"It will be a balance... across the three categories of our membership, as it was last time."
Mr Cunliffe told TV3's Campbell Live programme last night that he would offer leadership rival Grant Robertson the job of deputy leader.
"If Grant is not successful, I would like to hold out my hand to him as my deputy so we can bring both sides of the team together and we can go forward together."
A short time after appearing on TV3, Mr Cunliffe appeared on Maori Television's Native Affairs and then TV3's Paul Henry Show. On Native Affairs, he raised the prospect of Labour having co-deputy leaders, one of whom would be a Maori.
"We need to see more Maori MPs in senior levels," he said "and one of the ideas that is floating around ... is to examine the possibility of having co-deputy positions where one may be Maori.
"I think that is an idea that definitely needs a look."
Mr Cunliffe indicated on Campbell Live that he had lost the support of his deputy and finance spokesman, David Parker, who is expected to become acting leader after today's Labour Party caucus meeting.
"I think David Parker will want to have a fresh look, and he is entitled to do that."
- By Audrey Young of The New Zealand Herald and Sophie Ryan of APNZ
