Honeymoon over for Jacinda Ardern as Labour drops below National in latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll

April 16, 2018

Labour has fallen five points to 43 per cent approval, while National has climbed one point to 44 per cent.

The honeymoon is over for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, with Labour dropping below National in the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll. 

The poll results find National on 44 per cent approval, up one and sitting pretty as the biggest party. 

Labour is on 43 per cent, a five-point drop since our last poll in February. 

The poll is the second of the year, and the first with Simon Bridges at the helm of the National Party.

1 NEWS political Editor Jessica Mutch says it'll be mixed emotions for National tonight off the back of the poll.

National has regained the lead in the latest 1 News Colmar Brunton poll following Simon Bridges' rise to the party leadership.

"National itself is actually tracking really well - back to being the favourite party, and it hasn't moved around a lot since the election," she says.

"But if I was Simon Bridges I'd be worried because either people don't know him, or don't like him. Either way that's not great.

Mr Bridges is yet to resonate with voters, with only 10 per cent preferring him to be prime minister.

Ms Ardern support is at 37 per cent approval for preferred prime minister in the latest poll.

When John Key and Jacinda Ardern became leaders they were polling three times Mr Bridges.

The new National leader is getting about the same rating as failed Labour leaders Andrew Little, David Cunliffe and David Shearer.  

But that doesn't take away that Labour have had "sloppy" last few weeks Mutch says.

"Labour is down, the Prime Minister is down. She had great summer but now she's getting into the political grind."

Labour have had a sloppy and a ropey last few weeks

—  1 NEWS political Editor Jessica Mutch |

Mutch said the Prime Minister, who has just arrived in Europe, will be hoping this entrance onto the world stage "will put a full stop after a difficult few weeks".  

However, the drop by Labour is being picked up by its support parties, with the Greens on six per cent, up one, and New Zealand First on five per cent, up two.

The Maori Party isn't in Parliament anymore but is still registering support with one per cent. 

Labour's drop in the polls comes after a bad few weeks for the Prime Minister, with one controversy after another.

There's been the Clare Curran Radio New Zealand saga, the Russia spy story, Middlemore Hospital revelations and the accusations of sexual assault at a Labour camp.

"Oh, politics absolutely comes with it's up and downs. But over that time we've been able to progress an enormous agenda," Ms Ardern said. 

"Overall the coalition Government still showing very strong support."

But National still gets the prize for the biggest party.

"In terms of the Government, people are seeing something lurching around a bit shambolic, certainly floundering," Mr Bridges said.

"It is important people get to know me. I'm working very hard to give them that opportunity, working very hard every day all over New Zealand," Mr Bridges said.

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