New Zealand election too close to call three months from vote

NEW Zealand’s general election remains too close to call three months out from the vote, with the ruling Labour Party and the main opposition National Party almost neck and neck in the latest opinion poll.

Support for Labour fell 2 percentage points to 33 per cent in a 1News/Verian poll published Monday (Jul 17) in Wellington, while National also dropped 2 percentage points to 35 per cent. Labour’s partner the Green Party rose three points to 10 per cent, while National’s ally the ACT Party gained 1 percentage point to 12 per cent support.

If the results were replicated at the election on Oct 14, National and ACT would be able to command 61 seats, and therefore a slim majority, in the 120-seat parliament. Labour and the Greens would be unable to form a government, even with the support of the smaller Maori Party.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins initially boosted Labour’s chances of winning a third term when he took over from Jacinda Ardern in January, but the party’s support has now declined for a third straight poll as the government grapples with soaring prices and a weakening economy.  

Hipkins remains the nation’s most-preferred prime minister, but the gap with National leader Christopher Luxon has narrowed. Support for Hipkins fell 1 percentage point to 24 per cent, while support for Luxon gained 2 percentage points to 20 per cent. BLOOMBERG