New political poll shows National up, but unable to form Government

There’s mixed news for the National Party in this month’s Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll, with National gaining in popularity but the three coalition parties unable to form a Government.

The poll shows Labour holds onto its spot as the largest party, gaining 0.2 points to 33.8 per cent. National gains 1.3 points to 33.1 per cent.

The Greens gain 0.9 points to 10.7 per cent, while New Zealand First gains 0.3 points to 8.1 per cent.

ACT drops 1.9 points to 6.7 per cent, while Te Pāti Māori gains 1.1 point to 4.3 per cent.

For the minor parties, TOP is on 1.1 per cent (-1.5 points), Outdoors and Freedom is on 0.8 per cent (-0.3 points), Vision NZ is on 0.6 per cent (+0.2 points), and New Conservatives are on 0.3 per cent (+0.3 points).

The combined projected seats for the centre-left remains 61. The combined seats for the centre-right drops one from last month to 60.

On these numbers, the centre-left bloc could form a Government. Labour drops one seat from last month to 42, while National gains two to 42.

The Greens gain one seat to 13, while New Zealand First remains on 10. ACT drops three seats to eight, while Te Pāti Māori remains unchanged on six.

Cost-of-living remains voters’ top issues at 27.5 per cent (+3.1 points), followed by the economy more generally at 16.1 per cent (-4.6 points).

Health is the next largest at 11.1 per cent (+1.1%), followed by employment on 7.5 per cent and taxes on 4.7 per cent.

Commenting on the results, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross says: “With Labour and National tied on 42 seats each, it’s neck and neck as we close in on the final year before the next election.

“This Government is still hanging on by its fingertips. They were elected to provide cost-of-living relief, and so far they’ve been unable to deliver.

“If National wants to go into the next election with some breathing room, families need to stop feeling the squeeze. That means growth, jobs, and rates relief.”