Economic outlook rosier, poll finds

1.00pm

New Zealanders believe the economic outlook is getting rosier, according to the latest One News-Colmar Brunton poll.

The poll, of 1000 voters, shows 39 per cent are optimistic about the economic outlook, up 5 percentage points from last month.

Numbers of those pessimistic about the outlook fell considerably, from 35 per cent last month to 28 per cent.

Approval of the Government's performance also increased, up 2 percentage points to 47 per cent. Those who disapproved were also up, by 1 point to 39 per cent.

The poll showed the smaller parties regaining some ground but that National and Labour continue to blitz the rest of the field.

National attracting the most support with 43 per cent, down 1 percentage point on last month.

Labour is also down 1 point, to 39 per cent, but New Zealand First, the Greens and ACT are all on the increase, albeit well behind the frontrunners.

New Zealand First increased 2 points, to reach the crucial 5 per cent threshold, while the Greens also hit 5 per cent, up 1 point.

ACT, which elected Rodney Hide as leader last month, was up 1 point to 3 per cent, while United Future and the Maori Party were both steady on 2 per cent.

Prime Minister Helen Clark remains the most favoured prime minister, increasing 1 percentage point to 37 per cent, but National leader Don Brash and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters were also up 1 point, to 32 per cent and 7 per cent respectively.

Recent key political events which could have had an effect on the poll include Dr Brash's law and order speech, the approval of the meningococcal vaccine, All Blacks victories and the build-up to yesterday's Te Tai Hauauru by-election.

The poll, taken from July 5-8, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 per cent.

- NZPA