Brash struggles in ratings despite National's rise in popularity

National has narrowed the gap with Labour but National Party leader Don Brash continues to struggle with his personal popularity and leadership ratings, a new opinion poll shows.

The TV3/TNS poll released last night put National up two percentage points, on 40 per cent compared with 38 per cent in the last poll by TV3 at the end of January and beginning of February. Labour was down from 44 per cent to 43 per cent, NZ First up slightly from 3.4 per cent to 4.3 per cent.

Support for the Greens dropped from 7 per cent to 6 per cent. Although ratings of the other minor parties changed little, the Maori Party jumped from 1.7 per cent to 3 per cent.

Translated into seats in Parliament, Labour would be up from its present 50 to 55, National would gain two seats from 48 to 50 and NZ First would not have any seats.

Because Winston Peters lost Tauranga, NZ First does not have an electorate seat and has to be above 5 per cent to have MPs in Parliament.

The Greens would have eight, two more than they hold, Act would lose one of their two seats and United Future would lose one, down to two.

The poll shows no change to the Maori Party's four seats and the Progressives' one.

The poll - taken after Labour's David Parker was forced to resign his portfolios - shows Prime Minister Helen Clark's personal popularity is down from 39 per cent to 38 per cent in the preferred Prime Minister stakes. Dr Brash has dropped from 16 per cent to 15 per cent and Mr Peters from 7 per cent to 6 per cent. An overwhelming majority still believe Helen Clark has performed well, although down slightly from 66 per cent to 61 per cent, compared with those who think she has performed poorly, up slightly from 19 per cent to 23 per cent.

Thirty-four per cent thought Dr Brash had performed well, down from 38 per cent, compared with 45 per cent who thought he had performed poorly - up 3 per cent.

Preferred PM
Helen Clark 38%
Don Brash  15%
Winston Peters 6%

- NZPA