Exclusive: Labour jumps ahead of National, Ardern support surges in 1 NEWS poll

February 18, 2019

National and its leader have received their lowest numbers since the election, according to the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll.

Labour has moved into the lead over National in the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll released tonight.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party has 45 per cent in the poll, up two percentage points from the last survey in November.

The National Party has fallen four points to 42 per cent.

The picture for Labour's support parties in the Government coalition is mixed. The Greens are up one point to 6 per cent, but Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters' New Zealand First Party is down one point to 3 per cent. 

That leaves NZ First well below the 5 per cent threshold required to return to Parliament without winning an electorate seat.

In the preferred prime minister polling, Ms Ardern has gone up five points as to 44 per cent.

The latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll looked into the issue.

"I'm please with that vote of confidence," Ms Ardern said in response to the poll results.

"I'd like to think that this is a positive reflection both of what we've already done as Government in response to some of those really big challenges New Zealand is facing, but also our plans going forward."

National leader Simon Bridges' position as leader remains under strain, dropping one point since November to just 6 per cent. That puts him equal with Judith Collins. 

"It's good that we've got a bunch of people in National who are well liked. I feel very confident and comfortable in my leadeship," Mr Bridges said. 

Mr Peters is down one point on 3 per cent.

Labour and National have been neck-and-neck in our last eight polls since the last election, a point Mr Bridges was keen to make. 

"The polls will jump around. I think it just moves around," he said.

Ultimately, it's in the forties, we're a long way from the election."

Labour's strong showing comes despite optimism in economic outlook dropping two points to 35 per cent, the same rating as pessimism.

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