National Party support steady in latest poll

File photo / Mark Mitchell

National's support is barely dented in the first major poll since the Budget, and Prime Minister John Key's popularity has risen.

The party was still able to form a Government with its three support partners, the latest One News Colmar Brunton poll showed.

National's support fell one point to 48 per cent, while Labour remained on 31 per cent and Greens rose one point to 10 per cent.

New Zealand First remained steady on 7 per cent, as did the Conservatives on 2 per cent and the Maori Party on 1 per cent.

The poll of 1000 people was taken between May 23 and 27, and was the first indication of the Government's support since the Budget was announced the week before.

The Budget increased some welfare payments by $25, while also scrapping a $1000 Kiwisaver payment and introducing a levy at the border.

It also introduced new residential housing measures including a tax on capital gains, stricter tax requirements for foreign buyers, and plans to free up state-owned land in Auckland for development.

The poll was also the first by One News since Mr Key was accused of harassing an Auckland waitress by repeatedly pulling her ponytail.

It appeared to show that his popularity has not dropped as a result of the incident, which generated headlines around the world and could lead to legal action against him.

In the preferred Prime Minister poll, John Key rose 2 points to 44 per cent.

Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little's support fell two points to 9 per cent, and he was now level in the popularity stakes with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.

In the aftermath of the Budget, Mr Little said it was unfair that people who kept working past age 65 received a pension.

He later clarified that he was not in favour of means testing for superannuation.

The proportion of undecided voters rose 4 points to 13 per cent in the poll, which had margin of error of 3.1 per cent.