Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Electoral Race Tightens in New Zealand

October 13, 2008

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Next month’s election in New Zealand could be very close, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 40.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the opposition National party, while 37.5 per cent would back the governing Labour party.

The Greens are third with nine per cent, followed by New Zealand First with four per cent, ACT with 3.5 per cent, the Maori Party with two per cent, United Future with one per cent, and the Progressives also with one per cent. Support for Labour increased by one point since mid-September, while backing for National fell by seven 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. 11, Clark discussed her views on the current global economic crisis, saying, "Our government has agreed to implement a deposit guarantee scheme which will provide New Zealand depositors with additional confidence. (...) If necessary Labour will bring forward infrastructure spending in areas like road and rail construction projects, local government sewerage treatment projects, school property investment and back country catchments and afforestation."

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. 5

Sept. 14

Aug. 31

National

40.5%

47.5%

44.5%

Labour

37.5%

36.5%

38%

Greens

9%

6.5%

8%

New Zealand First

4%

5.0%

2.5%

ACT

3.5%

1.5%

1.5%

Maori Party

2%

1.5%

3.5%

United Future

1%

0.5%

1%

Progressives

1%

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Source: Roy Morgan International
Methodology: Interviews with 923 New Zealand voters, conducted from Sept. 22 to Oct. 5, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

 

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