Remaining Green Party voters 'mainly hippies and drug addicts' - Matthew Hooton

The Green Party's woeful result in a new poll could spell the end for the party, according to one political commentator.

The party's support fell 11 points to 4 per cent in the latest One News-Colmar Brunton poll, which came a week after Metiria Turei resigned as co-leader over a welfare controversy.

A result of less than 5 per cent would mean the Greens would not return to Parliament unless they won an electorate seat, which they have achieved only once in their history.

Right-leaning political commentator Matthew Hooton told NewstalkZB today that most parties had a core level of support they did not fall below.

"But it is possible for parties to completely disappear and we may be seeing that with the Greens," he said.

He predicted that the party had lost votes to Labour in urban areas like Auckland Central, Wellington Central and Epsom.

"This remaining 4 per cent I would expect are mainly hippies and drug addicts in the West Coast and Coromandel, and they are exactly the sort of people who are unlikely to show up.

"I think it might be the end of the road for the Greens, and in practice a vote for the Greens is now a vote for National because Winston Peters will not form a government with Labour if it depends on the Greens."

Political polls have previously inflated the Green vote, and the party's result on election day is often lower than forecast.

Former Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the poor result for her old party came after a "concerted assault" on Turei from many sides, especially media and commentators.

"I think the public are quite confused. I wouldn't be surprised if there are people out there who are not sure whether there is still a Green Party to vote for after some of things that have been said," she told Radio New Zealand.

Fitzsimons said the Green Party had been in this position before, and often performed best when it had its back against the wall.

"I have no doubt at all that we will come back up again."

The Greens' poor result has prompted discussion about whether the party should seek an agreement with Labour in one electorate to allow them to survive.

But Fitzsimons advised against this, saying she was never in favour of doing deals with other parties.