Ardern and Labour ride popularity wave

WELLINGTON: The gap between National and Labour continues to grow, and the main governing party is now 8 percentage points higher in the polls than National.

Labour was at 48%, up 3 percentage points on the last poll, according to last night’s 1News/Colmar Brunton poll.

National was down 2 percentage points to 40% — its lowest level of support in this poll since the 2017 election.

And Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern continues to remain much more popular than National’s Simon Bridges, cracking 50% in the preferred prime minister rating for the first time.

It is the highest she has polled in the ranking since becoming prime minister in 2017.

Mr Bridges is on just 5% and is neckandneck with Judith Collins.

Ms Ardern’s 51% on the rating in the preferred prime minister ranking was up 7 percentage points.

The poll was taken after the March 15 terror attacks.

Speaking to 1News, Ms Ardern said: ‘‘I just know I have a job to do on behalf of New Zealand and I’m doing it.’’

Mr Bridges said Ms Ardern had fronted on behalf of New Zealand and ‘‘had done a good job’’.

Asked about his low personal polling, Mr Bridges said what matters was the party vote.

‘‘I’m pleased with where I’m at . . . but I know we have work to do. I’m pleased to be leading a party that is in the 40s.’’

He said his low polling was ‘‘a function of name recognition’’.

He did not directly answer questions about being on the same polling as Ms Collins, only saying National ‘‘had a bunch of great MPs’’. — NZME