Where MPs are lining up in Labour leadership race

Grant Robertson and running mate Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Support among Labour MPs for the party leadership has Grant Robertson just ahead of David Parker with 11 and 9 supporters respectively, and both are some way ahead of Nanaia Mahuta and Andrew Little with six supporters each, soundings by the New Zealand Herald suggest.

Many expect the contest to come down to Mr Little and Mr Robertson, but Mr Parker appears to have more caucus support than Mr Little.

Mr Little, however, is expected to attract the majority of the affiliated unions' votes, and Ms Mahuta seems likely to be the first one eliminated in the preferential voting system.

That means second and possibly third preferences will be crucial.

Candidates are said to be lobbying as strongly for second preferences as for first.

If no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the vote on first preferences, the bottom candidate drops off and his or her preferences are distributed.

Caucus votes will account for 40 per cent of the vote; ordinary membership 40 per cent; and 20 per cent from seven affiliated unions, allocated according to size.

On current soundings, Mr Parker's support is weighted to male MPs and Ms Mahuta's to Maori and Pacific MPs.

Mr Robertson has retained all of his support from the contest after David Shearer's resignation last year when he and Shane Jones lost to David Cunliffe.

Voting has started and the result will be announced on November 18.

Caucus numbers

Andrew Little 6: Andrew Little, David Cunliffe, Iain Lees Galloway, Sue Moroney, Carmel Sepuloni, Poto Williams

Nanaia Mahuta 6: Nanaia Mahuta, Peeni Henare, Adrian Rurawhe, Su'a William Sio, Louisa Wall, Meka Whaitiri

David Parker 9: David Parker, Clayton Cosgrove, Kelvin Davis, Stuart Nash, Damien O'Connor, Jenny Salesa, David Shearer, Rino Tirakatene, Phil Twyford

Grant Robertson 11: Grant Robertson, Jacinda Ardern, David Clark, Clare Curran, Ruth Dyson, Kris Faafoi, Phil Goff, Chris Hipkins, Annette King, Trevor Mallard, Megan Woods

An estimate of where the numbers sit at present in the caucus.