(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The opposition National party holds a commanding advantage in New Zealand, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 43 per cent of respondents would vote for National in next month’s legislative ballot, while 32 per cent would support the governing Labour party.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The opposition National party holds a commanding advantage in New Zealand, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 43 per cent of respondents would vote for National in next month’s legislative ballot, while 32 per cent would support the governing Labour party.
The Greens are third with 11.5 per cent, followed by New Zealand First with 4.5 per cent, ACT with 3.5 per cent, the Maori Party with 2.5 per cent, United Future with 0.5 per cent, and the Progressives also with 0.5 per cent. Support for National increased by 2.5 points since early October, while backing for Labour fell by 5.5 points.
Labour leader Helen Clark has acted as New Zealand’s prime minister since December 1999. In November 2006, Don Brash—who had served as National’s leader since October 2003—announced his resignation and was substituted by finance spokesman John Key.
In the September 2005 ballot, Labour elected 50 lawmakers to the 121-seat House of Representatives, and assembled a coalition government with the Progressives. United Future and New Zealand First agreed to support the administration in confidence and supply votes for three years. National finished second, with 48 legislators.
On Oct. 28, Green co-leader Russel Norman discussed his party’s chances, saying, "It’s our time. It feels like it. (…) I think our campaign is looking really good. My target is 10 per cent of the party vote. It’s gettable for the Greens. That would give us a good bunch of MPs, probably 12. We’d get some great people."
The next legislative election will take place on Nov. 8.
Polling Data
If an election were held today which party would receive your party vote?
|
Oct. 19
|
Oct. 5
|
Sept. 14
|
|
|
National
|
43%
|
40.5%
|
47.5%
|
|
Labour
|
32%
|
37.5%
|
36.5%
|
|
Greens
|
11.5%
|
9%
|
6.5%
|
|
New Zealand First
|
4.5%
|
4%
|
5.0%
|
|
ACT
|
3.5%
|
3.5%
|
1.5%
|
|
Maori Party
|
2.5%
|
2%
|
1.5%
|
|
United Future
|
0.5%
|
1%
|
0.5%
|
|
Progressives
|
0.5%
|
1%
|
–
|
Source: Roy Morgan International
Methodology: Interviews with 743 New Zealand voters, conducted from Oct. 6 to Oct. 19, 2008. No margin of error was provided.
