National loses support in new polls

Photo / Mark Mitchell

National has lost support, according to two new polls, with one showing Labour was recovering from its recent lows even before the Dirty Politics scandal hit.

The latest 3News Reid Research poll of 1000 New Zealanders shows National down almost 2 points to 47.5 per cent and Labour up over 2 points to 29 per cent.

The poll was conducted over the week ended August 13, finishing on the day which saw the launch of Nicky Hager's expose of an extensive alleged dirty tricks campaign against the Government's political foes. Hager claims the campaign featuring Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater has links to Prime Minister John Key's office and Justice Minister Judith Collins.

The Green Party was up 0.6 per cent to 13 per cent and New Zealand First was up 0.3 per cent to 4.6 per cent.

In spite of his party's slightly softer polling, Mr Key's support was firm, up 0.3 per cent to 44.1 per cent.

Labour Leader David Cunliffe was up 0.4 per cent to 9.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, although NZ First Leader Winston Peter's "two wongs" joke went down like a lead balloon with most last weekend, his support as preferred Prime Minister rose 1.4 per cent to 6.7 per cent in the week he made it.

The One News Colmar Brunton poll- also revealed tonight - showed National was down two points to 50 per cent support. Labour was also down two points, to 26 per cent.

The Greens had moved up one point to 11 per cent, and NZ First was up one point, hitting the five per cent mark.

The Internet Mana Party had doubled support to four per cent, the poll showed. The Conservatives were steady on two per cent while both the Maori and Act parties remained on one per cent.

The poll was taken just prior to the release of Nicky Hager's book Dirty Politics.

- additional reporting APNZ

One News Colmar Brunton poll:

National -- 50 per cent down two points

Labour -- 26 per cent down two points.

Green -- 11 per cent up one point

NZ First -- Five per cent up one point

Internet Mana -- Four per cent up two points

Conservative -- Two per cent

Maori -- One per cent

Act -- One per cent

Preferred Prime Minister

David Cunliffe up two to 10 per cent

John Key down three to 45 per cent

3News Reid Research poll:

PARTY VOTE:

National: 47.5 per cent -- down 1.9 per cent

Labour: 29 per cent -- up 2.3 per cent

Greens: 13 per cent -- up 0.6 per cent

NZ First: 4.6 per cent -- up 0.3 per cent

Conservatives: 2.5 per cent -- down 0.2 per cent

Internet-Mana: 2.0 per cent -- down 0.2 per cent

Maori Party: 0.8 per cent -- down 0.3 per cent

Act: 0.3 per cent -- up 0.2 per cent

United Future: -- 0.2 per cent -- no change