Key admits vote-splitting hurts city seat

During the debate Mr Cunliffe said Labour would win the Napier seat.

Prime Minister John Key has admitted vote-splitting is "hurting" National's chances of retaining the Napier seat at Saturday's general election.

In last night's TV One leaders debate between Mr Key and Labour leader David Cunliffe, moderator Mike Hosking asked Mr Key if National believed it would lose the Napier seat to Labour candidate Stuart Nash.

"What's hurting us is vote-splitting," Mr Key said.

The seat is currently held by National's Chris Tremain, who is retiring from politics, but a One News/Colmar Brunton poll of 501 Napier voters last week showed Mr Nash has 39 per cent support, ahead of Wayne Walford on 33 per cent. Conservative Party candidate Garth McVicar was preferred by 22 per cent of those polled

In the party vote in the electorate, 44 per cent said they would vote National, 25 per cent supported Labour, 12 per cent the Greens and 9 per cent the Conservatives.

Earlier Massey University political marketing specialist Professor Claire Robinson said the poll showed Mr McVicar was stealing votes from Mr Walford and Mr Nash.

"Garth McVicar will be taking votes off Stuart Nash and Wayne Walford and it seems to be working in Stuart Nash's favour."

During the debate Mr Cunliffe said Labour would win the Napier seat.

Mr Walford told Hawke's Bay Today last night he hadn't given up the fight for the seat.

"We're just working hard, we're just continuing to do the work. I haven't given up. I've got to let the people of Napier decide."

He added he was "looking forward to Sunday morning".

Mr Nash said: "My view is this election's going to go down to the wire. It's going to be very close - that's the nature of elections."