Simon Bridges has backing from the public to remove MP Jami-Lee Ross from Parliament using the new waka jumping law, according to the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll.
Mr Ross was expelled from the National Party after going rogue, but will be back in Parliament next year as an independent MP for Botany.
However, the new waka jumping law means Mr Ross could be forced out, sparking a by-election. Under the law, if a MP decided to leave their political party, or was forced out by the leader, they now also lose their seat.
"National won't use it while [Mr Ross] is unwell," Mr Bridges said.
"Further than that we haven't decided."
In the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll, 44 per cent of those asked said Mr Bridges should remove Mr Ross from Parliament using the new law.
Twenty-four per cent disagreed,, and 31 per cent did not know.
"It's interesting what the public think about all of this but of course [National] voted against this law," Mr Bridges said. "There is politics but there's also principle, we think it is a bad law."
From the responders, National supporters and people aged 55 and over were more likely to believe Mr Bridges should use the waka jumping law to remove Mr Ross from Parliament.
Mr Bridges said they could not "rule anything out", however it would not be used while Mr Ross was unwell.
Mr Ross told 1 NEWS he was not engaging in politics currently so did not want to comment.
Interviewing took place from November 24 to November 28, with 1,008 eligible voters contacted either by landline or mobile phone. The maximum sampling error was ±3.1 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level.
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