Politics

Poll puts Labour ahead of Nats for first time in 12 years

19:36 pm on 11 February 2019

The National Party is polling below Labour for the first time in twelve years in the Newshub Reid Research poll.

National Party leader Simon Bridges and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo: RNZ

The poll has Labour at 47.5 percent, ahead of the National Party, which has dropped to 41.6 percent.

The Greens are sat at 5.1 percent while New Zealand First is on 2.9 percent.

"I think it's bad news for Simon Bridges because he hasn't shown a great improvement in his leadership standing" - Political commentator Professor Claire Robinson

Political commentator Professor Claire Robinson told Checkpoint it was great news for the Labour Party and showed a honeymoon period for party, with voters giving them the benefit of the doubt.

"It is fantastic for Labour, they have gone up over 20 points in the last just over a year and that's a huge jump."

In the preferred prime minister polling, Labour's Jacinda Ardern sits comfortably on 41.8 percent.

National MP Judith Collins got 6.2 percent, which moves her ahead of her leader Simon Bridges who is sat on 5 percent.

Based on the poll numbers the Labour Party and the Greens would be able to govern alone without New Zealand First.

The margin of error for the poll was 3.1 percent and was taken over 24 January to 2 February.