Labour ahead in new poll

Labour are ahead of National by three points in another poll, while Judith Collins is even with Simon Bridges in the preferred prime minister stakes.

The TVNZ/Colmar Brunton poll released last night had Labour at 45 per cent (up 2), National at 42 per cent (down 4), the Greens at 6 per cent (up

1), and NZ First at 3 per cent (down 1). In the preferred prime ministerial stakes Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is way ahead at 44 per cent while National leader Bridges is hovering at 6 per cent, along with National MP Collins, who is also at

6 per cent.

The last poll from TVNZ/Colmar Brunton was in late November.

The news follows a bombshell poll from rival pollster Reid Research for Newshub released last week, which showed Labour ahead six points and Collins ahead of Bridges in the preferred prime minister stakes.

These numbers are not as strong for Labour – they are only three points ahead – but will hinder any argument that the earlier poll was rogue.

On the latest poll’s numbers Labour would win 58 seats in the House, just below the 61-seat governing threshhold. It could govern with the Green Party, who would win

7 seats. NZ First would be out of Parliament on these numbers.

The poll was taken between February 9 and 13.

Since the last TVNZ/Colmar Brunton poll, the Government has radically downgraded its short-term expectations for KiwiBuild, admitting it only expects to build 300 homes in the first year of the scheme – instead of 1000. Concerns around New Zealand’s relationship with China have also made headlines.