Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says a new 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll showing static support for Labour after the election means voters are "hopeful" and "optimistic".
The poll showed Labour has missed out on the traditional big jump in support following a successful move into government, with party vote support up two percentage points to 39 per cent from 37 per cent on election night.
Support for National was at 46 per cent, up from 44.4 per cent on election night.
In the preferred Prime Minister stakes, however, Ms Ardern is on 37 per cent - well ahead of rival Bill English on 28 per cent.
Ms Ardern, speaking this morning to TVNZ 1's Breakfast, said she thought the results show the population are still waiting for Labour to show it will deliver on its promises.
"I think what we'll see is a steady build ... over time as voters build a little more confidence in the government," she said.
"I think that will be more durable as a result as well.
"I think it's about building confidence amongst voters ... people are hopeful, they are optimistic ... but they do just want to give us a bit of time to see what we can do."
The poll also asked New Zealanders whether they thought the current government is heading in the right or wrong direction.
Fifty-one per cent felt it was going in the right direction while 26 per cent said the wrong direction and 23 per cent didn't know.
The poll of just over 1000 eligible voters was taken between November 29 and December 5 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 per cent.
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