Peters predicts more poll surges

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has been meeting locals in Feilding today buoyed by latest poll results.

This morning's Herald-Digi Poll puts New Zealand First support at its highest of the election campaign, at 8.1 percent. Radio New Zealand's poll of polls - an average of the four most recent surveys - has the party up slightly on 6.2 percent.

Mr Peters told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme the Herald-Digi Poll underestimates his party's support, which is growing.

"What's happening now is that people are coming out for New Zealand First because they do not like underhand dirty politics using taxpayers money to character assassinate opponents.

"They're coming out for a thing called integrity and honour and whether the commentators like it or not that will rise in this poll as we go every day to the election."

In Feilding this morning, young local couple Chris and Richard Owen, though undecided who they will vote for, said they wanted a picture with Mr Peters and described themselves as starstruck. "I think he's awesome, said Chris Owen. "I think he's a really nice guy."

However, not everyone was a fan. "I'd appreciate if you'd go with John Key," one woman said. "Hang on, are you voting for me?" Mr Peters asked. "If you're not voting for me how can you ask me a thing like that?"

In this morning's Herald-Digi Poll, support for National is down 1.5 points to 48.6 while Labour is on 24.6 after a slight rise in support.

The Greens are steady on 11.5 percent, the Conservative Party has 3.8 and Internet-Mana has slipped to 2.3. Just over 9 percent of those polled were undecided.

The poll of 750 eligible voters was conducted between 4-10 September. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 percent.

Last night, the latest One News Colmar-Brunton poll had National dipping 5 points to 46 percent -still 21 points ahead of Labour - and National leader John Key as preferred prime minister on 46 percent support.

Labour fell 1 point to 25 percent - a result Television New Zealand said was Labour's worst in the past 17 years.

The Green Party was up 3 points to 14 percent, while New Zealand First was steady on 7 percent. The Conservative Party was up 1 to 4 percent and Internet Mana is down 1 point to 1 percent.

Mr Key has lost 2 points in the preferred prime minister stakes but retains 46 percent support, while Labour leader David Cunliffe is steady on 14 percent.

One thousand people were questioned and the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The latest surveys put the four poll averages in Radio New Zealand's POLL of POLLS compiled by political analyst Colin James as follows:

• National 48.9%
• Labour 25%
• Greens 12.9%
• New Zealand First 6.2%
• Conservatives 3.7%
• Internet-Mana 1.7%
• Maori party 1%
• ACT 0.5%
• United Future 0.1%.