Labour has sunk below 30% in the party vote in the latest 1News Verian poll, a 4% drop in the past month and its worst performance since Chris Hipkins became party leader.
The poll, conducted from August 12 to 16, puts Labour on just 29%. That’s a huge fall since the last election when it received 50% of the party vote.
It’s also seen Hipkins’ worst result in the preferred prime minister stakes since he took on the top job.
National were on 37% in today’s poll, up 2% on July, while ACT picked up 1% to 13%, and the Greens were up 2% to 12%.
The poll also shows a surge for New Zealand First, on 4% and within grasping distance of the crucial 5% party vote needed for a return to Parliament.
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On today’s number, the party would need to win an electorate seat to convert its party vote to seats in the House.
Translated to seats in Parliament, today’s poll meant National could comfortably form a government with ACT - National’s 48 seats and ACT’s 17 seats coming to a total of 65 seats.
Labour, on the other hand, would have 37 seats. Combined with the Greens’ 15 seats and Te Pāti Māori’s three seats - provided Rawiri Waititi retains Waiariki - the total for the left bloc was just 55.
The magic number for a majority is 61 seats.
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