Labour and PM still ahead in poll
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s popularity has reached an alltime high following her handling of the Christchurch terror attacks.
In the latest TVNZ Colmar Brunton poll – the first poll following the attacks – Ardern’s star has risen to 51 per cent in the preferred prime minister stakes.
National leader Simon Bridges has dropped one point, down to five per cent – his lowest yet.
Despite Ardern’s seven point rise, it might be surprising that it did not translate to a larger boost for Labour.
The party has seen a rise in popularity, sitting three points higher and on 48 per cent popularity, compared to TVNZ’s last poll from February 9 -13.
But National’s vote has held in the all-important 40s, although only just – putting leader Simon Bridges in a precarious position.
National is on 40 per cent – a two percentage point decrease. But given the context of the last few weeks he may be relieved.
A breach into the 30s would spell danger zone for his leadership, with Judith Collins already understood to be agitating, although her preferential polling numbers are the same as Bridges’ on five per cent.
The Green’s have remained steady on 6 per cent as have ACT on 1 per cent.
NZ First continues its run in the danger zone, on 4 per cent.
While that’s still a one point jump, NZ First would fail to make it back into Parliament on those numbers.
Meanwhile, the poll found 37 per cent were optimistic about the economic outlook, an increase of 2 points; while 36 per cent were pessimistic – an increase of one point.
The poll went to field following the Christchurch attacks, between April 6 and 10.
Since then, the prime minister has shot to international fame following her response to the Christchurch attacks in which 50 people were shot dead in two mosques during Friday prayers.
Her image has been projected onto the world’s largest building in Dubai, stars like Oprah Winfrey have sung her praises and world leaders have lauded her ability to affect quick gun control measures.
Discussions over a potential capital gains tax the Government wants to implement have not abated.
Capital gains tax has always been a weakness for Labour, which National has capitalised on.
Bridges has been supportive during Christchurch response, however national disasters often render Opposition leaders without platform or spotlight.
And Bridges has been fighting internal fires of his own.
While the ‘‘emotional junior staffer incident’’ is unlikely to have gained much public cutthrough, the issue combined with the TVNZ poll results will be a blow to his leadership.
When a staffer removed an online petition concerning the UN global migration compact – a topic which was referenced by the alleged shooter in the Christchurch terror attack – Bridges, on advice, told media it was removed as part of a ‘‘routine clear out’’ of petitions.
However, internet caching revealed this to be untrue, and Bridges later laid the blame on an ‘‘emotional junior staffer’’ who acted unilaterally.
That staffer is now involved in an employment dispute with Parliamentary Services.
It has raised internal questions of the leadership decisions of himself and those around him.
It’s understood agitation and the leak of details surrounding an employment issue from that staffer, have not come from the staffer himself, who is said to be angry at its release.
Rather, it was an attempt to further undermine Bridges from an MP thought to have designs on the leadership.
The poll has a margin of error of 3.1 per cent and surveyed 1009 eligible voters via landline and mobile phone.