(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - New Zealand’s governing Labour party remains second to the opposition National but has gained momentum, according to a poll by DigiPoll published in the New Zealand Herald. 50 per cent of respondents would back the conservative National in this year’s election to the House of Representatives, down 5.4 points since July.

Labour is second with 36.3 per cent, up 5.5 points in a month. The Greens are third with 5.1 per cent, followed by the Maori Party with 3.1 per cent, and New Zealand First with 2.1 per cent.

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.

In July, published reports claimed that New Zealand First received multiple donations from the Vela family’s thoroughbred and fishing companies from 1999 to 2003, which were never declared. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was appointed foreign minister by Clark to ensure his party’s support for a new Labour administration after the 2005 legislative election.

On Aug. 28, National leader Key said he would not seek New Zealand First’s support if he needs backing from another party to form a government after this year’s ballot, adding, "It is a serious decision and we haven’t made it lightly. In the end in politics you’ve got to do what’s right, and I’m asking the New Zealand public to trust us and to back us to be a government that has integrity."

The next legislative election must take place by Nov. 15.

Polling Data

If an election were held today, which party would you vote for?

Source: DigiPoll / New Zealand Herald
Methodology: Interviews to 770 New Zealand eligible voters, conducted in August 2008. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.

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