Labour not panicking over Nats' 13pc lead

Michael Cullen

Labour is not panicking over a poll that shows it sliding 13 per cent below National, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said today.

A One News/Colmar Brunton poll last night showed Labour had dropped two points from last month to 36 per cent, while National's support was unchanged on 49 per cent.

But Dr Cullen said there was a long time before the next election and the poll was no cause for panic.

"You don't panic when you're on 36 per cent, maybe when you're on 16 you start to get a bit worried," he said today on Newstalk ZB.

Dr Cullen said the results of the One News/Colmar Brunton poll seemed to be consistently skewed in favour of National.

"Colmar Brunton is always the worst for us for some reason. I think if National has a bit of a lead it tends to exaggerate it." Other polls, including Labour's own polling, had put the parties much closer together, he said.

In last night's poll National leader Don Brash slipped one point to 17 per cent in the preferred prime minister stakes but still gained ground on Helen Clark, who had dropped three points to 33 per cent.

However, National's John Key's rating was on the rise, at 11 per cent -- his highest rating yet.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters remained unchanged on 4 per cent.

In terms of the economy, the number of New Zealanders who were optimistic about it rose five points to 32 per cent, while the number of those pessimistic about it dropped to 42 per cent.

Approval of the Government's performance was slightly down at 35 per cent.

Colmar Brunton polled 1200 eligible voters between October 16 and 19.

- NZPA