The Greens are only two points ahead of National in the latest poll for the electorate seat - but incumbent MP Chlöe Swarbrick says the result is not a foregone conclusion.
Swarbrick prized the seat off National last election, winning by only a few hundred votes and becoming only the party's second candidate to win an electorate seat.
A Taxpayers Union / Curia poll last night had her in front on 26 percent. but National's Mahesh Muralidhar is only two points back on 24.
Labour candidate Oscar Sims is on 12 percent.
Swarbrick defended the poll result, telling RNZ's Checkpoint it was the highest-ever polling by a Green candidate in an electorate seat.
She was not surprised by the result, saying they were taking "nothing for granted".
"As I said back in 2020, no politician or party is entitled to absolutely anything, let alone the support of their community.
"That's why I'm out there every single day, building that mandate so we can continue organising as a community to get the outcomes that all of us deserve for people and planet."
Asked whether she might prefer Labour candidate Oscar Sims to stand aside, Swarbrick said she did not want "an asterix ... or caveat by our mandate to do the work for Auckland Central".
Instead, she was building the "biggest grass-roots campaign we have ever run - even bigger than that which led us to our historic win in 2020".
She also had a message for voters who were feeling "disenfranchised, disenchanted, uninspired or angry" by the "lack of vision" showed by National and Labour, urging them to get involved in the election.
"We've got just 17 days to get the outcomes all of us deserve."
Listen to the full interview
Was Swarbrick concerned about those on the Left splitting the vote?
"Our pitch to people is to vote their values... to vote for the people who will consistently fight in their corner."
The poll result has been questioned for being within the margin of error, but Swarbrick said that was no reason to dismiss the poll out of hand.
"The trend shows that we continue to be on top. But... I have never taken my role for granted.
"It has been the honour and privilege of my life to serve my home and community in Auckland, and we're continuing to do that so we can grow our mandate for more progressive change that those in Auckland deserve."
On the single biggest issue facing her electorate, she acknowledged the need to make the central city more vibrant.
"We need to fill our commercial spaces, we need to ensure everyone has a warm, dry and safe home, and that this economy provides for people and for planet and it's resilient for our climate changing."