KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Tim
Labour are gonners - NZ has finally woken up to the fact that Labour has been slowly cooking the frog that they think we are - completely forgetting that we are in fact kiwis. Full steam ahead National. The sooner the better.
Lee
If a future National government has policies which reflect the views of their deranged supporters on this forum, I fear for New Zealand. Labour is now the natural governing party of New Zealand, and National is beloved of the cranks, conspiracy theorists and those convinced that the state is out to "get" them. Seriously, comparing the mildly social democratic policies of the NZ Labour Party with former communist regimes is risible, and a testament to the failure of the New Zealand education system.The National Party is unelectable as anything other than a slightly more right wing version of the Labour government. Losing the last election against a tired government simply confirmed that Naitonal is now the natural opposition party. They'll probably get in next time for one term and then get trounced by Labour after that.
Jerry
Reading these comments, NZ probably deserves what it gets if half these people are typical of Kiwi intelligence. Mid term polls are irrelevant, especially in a country where half the population only read the headlines.
JR (Wellington)
The question says it all "is Labour on the way back". Back from where? Having now been in power for eight years, they and the country can only come back from where they sent us ! And thats simply not possible without an admission of mistakes - we know Helen and the Doctor don't do that. Hell, they could spend at least a year just saying sorry for health and education problems that they've created. Getting so-called academics to fill positions of power that they neither understand or have the ability to control is the hallmark of this Government. Compared to countries we used to compare with, we are now very, very poor cousins indeed. If they are thinking of coming back then we all should worry.
Steve (Wellington)
Of course Labour will win the next election! That's what MMP is for - to aid the centre and left. Labour only needs to poll at 40 per cent, as long as they have the Greens, Jim Anderton, the Maori Party, Winston and Peter it's a Dunne deal in with them under the MMP system then they are always going to be win. To that end, the Nats need at least 50 per cent of the vote, which they won't get when Labour rolls out the next set of billion dollar bribes in 2008. My vote goes for democracy.
JPS (Dunedin)
Labour are dead and buried due to their appallingly woolly minded social policy. They will only recover if and when they make the promising Clayton Cosgrove leader.
Margot
Ian Morine - you must be joking? In fact based on your over the top support for Helen you obviously are. How can any NZer who works vote for Labour - the creator of dependant beneficiaries? Also don't forget Helen paid $600K to some beneficiaries to witch doctor away a mythical taniwha in the Waikato. There is something not sane about this...
Murray
From a purely self centred point of view, it would be great for my finances as interest rates will continue to rise along with the dollar given Chairperson/Frau Helen's and Comrade Michael's ridiculous continuation of non productive, vote buying spending. But for this country's sake I hope not. This country needs to rid itself of the noose of the Green/Labour agenda and the sooner the better, or all that will be left are those who vote for them.
Julian [Wellington]
Its pure ignorance for people to think that Key has no policy. He has been Leader for only 8 months now and policy is not made over night. So stop whining. Labour, on the other hand, has policy - policy that is riddled with deceit and manipulation. And NZ is tired of Clark and her nanny state. Soon we will have a change of Govt, a new, competent PM and bright, enthusiastic Ministers, and not a moment too soon.
Andrew Atkin
According to the political party, The New Zealand National Front, Labour and National, have members that are also members of a global organisation called 'Parliamentarians for Global Action'. POA is know to have strong federal-globalist leanings - a driving organisation for a "one world state". Well, if the National Front are right with their numbers, then that forces us to ask the question: Are the National and Labour parties both primarily Labour and National, or the POA? If they are the latter, then it doesn't really matter who wins the next election - they're all the same guys. Who knows?
Seamus Brady
Of course Labour is on the way up. New Zealand is starting to realise that what John Key is trying to offer just does not stack up and fails to ensure the short and long term future of the people and the country. KiwiSaver, subsidised early childhood education, interest free student loans, hugely cheaper doctor and prescription charges among other things as well as Labour being a party with a credible, capable leader, who provides strong leadership both in day to day business as well in crisis's. John Key is beginning to show that National haven't changed since Brash, lack any constructive relevant policy and possess no vision for the future for New Zealand and its people.
Bruce
The polls between now and the next election will ebb and flow for both parties, so to that end they're all a bit tiresome. As to whether Labour is coming back, I hope not. Irrespective of what's on offer I sense there is a mood for change out there. People have had enough of 7-years of being excessively regulated in so many aspects of their lives. To those who criticise National because they haven't said what their position is on policies such as Kiwisaver are delightfully naive. It's still only 2007. Why announce a raft of policies and give Labour the best part of year to steal, negate or trump them?!
John (Wellington)
Why can't the people who work for the Labour Party and are commenting on this story have the guts to say who they actually are?
Mark
I hope not. The quicker this red party leaves the better.
Jo from Torbay (male)
I notice that men obviously are more selfish or naive than women!
Arron
To all the Labour supporters bleating on about how wonderful kiwisaver is, who the hell can afford to put away 4 per cent of our wages after the massive tax grab and sky-high living costs implemented under this morally bankrupt, communist regime? We now have a situation where professionals can't even afford their own home, and where the only people doing ok are the dole bludgers and other WINZ dependants that are Labour's core support base.But it would be better if Labour wins this election anyway, the economy is at the point of implosion and it would be unfair for National to inherit this mess. I think the bureaucratic public sector monster is now a law unto itself and it may be impossible for any future government to reign it in. Better just to move to greener pastures overseas.
Kitty
I totally cannot stand the National party. They come up with all these false promises but what is going to happen if they get in? Public health will get even worse, state housing will become a mess and the rich will get richer and poor will get poorer. Helen Clark has done so much for this country. Unemployment is low, NZ music is well promoted and she took a stance by not getting involved with Iraq. We are so lucky to have such a great prime minister who is in touch with the people!
PD
Please no!Anything, but not that!
george lim
No! If voters have not learnt a lesson by now, I guess they never will. The thought of Cullen and Clark continuing to strut their arrogance for another term defies any imagination. Vote them in and you might as well buckle down and "enjoy" another four years of dictatorship.
Concerned for NZ
This poll is actually good news for National supporters. National hasn't slipped that much (it was always going to happen, once people calmed down from the trivial yet populist smacking issue), but Labour has largely absorbed the Green vote. Believe me, if there is one thing worse that a Labour government, it's a Labout-Green government where the Greens have a potent balance of power. The latter is true move-to-Australia material.
Andrew
I hope not for NZ's sake. The way things are going, they'll be only Labour supporters left; as those that wish to get on in life will have migrated to Europe or Aussie to make real money rather than stay here, become state dependants & wallow in the socialist cesspool of mediocrity Labour & Herr Clark has created over last 9yrs of power.
Lynda of TCL
Of course they are, all that will be left in this country are labour supporters and dope smoking smacking greens.
Rachel Boyack
This jump back in the polls from Labour highlights the difference between the two major parties. The Labour Party is focussed on policy that benefits all New Zealanders. This was evidenced in the latest budget, which saw the introduction of KiwiSaver - a big step in the right direction to get New Zealanders saving for their future and young people into their own homes.By contrast, the National Party continues its programme of spin and rhetoric, but is missing substantive policy details that will benefit New Zealanders. John Key has had his moment and New Zealanders are waking up to the fact that he is nothing more than a hollow man with no experience and lacking ideas.
Meg Bates (Auckland)
The polls are going to be up and down over the next little while but it appears voters are starting to tire of Key's complete lack of substance and principles. He hasn't come up with any new policy and refuses to state whether he would keep the visionary policies Labour is implementing if he came to power. Labour on the other hand has the experience in caucus and with its leader. It hasn't gone down the road of cheap stunts and style over substance that Key has chosen and has continued to produce innovative policy. Look at kiwisaver! A government that is prepared to make the hard decisions and provide forward thinking, secure economic policy over cheap vote buying tax cuts is certainly the right choice for NZers.
McV (Akl)
National have done well, and have been aided by this leftist PC govt as they continue their social engineering agenda. Surely more and more people will come to their senses and see that this thieving Labour govt is getting desperate. National have an dilemma in that of they release their policies too soon, Labour will corrupt and distort the message and if they don't release their policies they appear to have none. I personally hope that they continue pointing out Labours poor performance, however would like to see some constructive ideas come out as well.
Jane (Dunedin)
I've traditionally been a Labour supporter, but lately have been taking a closer look at National, mostly due to John Key, whom I quite like. I have to admit, however, my infatuation with him is waning as it becomes clearer and clearer that he doesn't seem to have any actual policies! If he does, I'd really like to hear them (and sooner rather than later) because the longer he takes to give them, the less likely he is to get my vote.
Sonny Thomas
Labour has proven that it is the natural party of government. The handling of the Fiji situation has been impressive and clearly shows that Helen Clark is the Prime Minister, that New Zealand needs in a crisis.Helen and Labour are also clawing back against everything being the Governments fault, whether it is or not. That must be a hard position to be in, especially when the honeymoon period for the Nats seems to keep being extended by the media. Helen has seen the back of four National Leaders, she'll like see a fifth.
Chris B (Hamilton)
I believe Labour may be having a slight comeback after recovering from the anti-smacking debacle. I don't think its going to bring them to a point where they can mount a serious challenge National at the next election.
mag922 (USA)
I sincerely hope not
Jane (Dunedin)
I've traditionally been a Labour supporter, but lately have been taking a closer look at National, mostly due to John Key, whom I quite like. I have to admit, however, my infatuation with him is waning as it becomes clearer and clearer that he doesn't seem to have any actual policies! If he does, I'd really like to hear them (and sooner rather than later) because the longer he takes to give them, the less likely he is to get my vote.
Rob White (Hobsonville)
What Mr Key has forgotten, but has been clearly demonstrated in the recent political poll, is that the election is a long way off and one good poll does not a leader make. I would advise Mr Key to stop spending so much time on his image and start talking policy. Or perhaps he isn't talking policy for a very good reason as he acknowledges in a 'Getfrank" interview "Now there's no doubt that Don Brash's economic prescription for New Zealand was a bit harder right than my prescription would be. But that's just a difference in style to a certain degree." Key is just Brash dressed up in nicer clothes and with better political stunts. As he himself points out the difference between Key and the deceitful Brash is just style. But I am sure that New Zealander's will tire of him side-stepping policy questions eventually. Let's just hope they haven't let New Zealand slip back into the National disaster of the nineties in the meantime.
Ian Morine
Excellent, sanity is starting to prevail as I thought it would - eventually. I mean, who in their right mind would vote for a party, the Nats, who cannot even make up their minds whether they would retain Kiwisaver or not, the only policy to encourage savings that we have ever seen come out of the NZ Parliment, and the they want to run the country ? The Nats don't even know how they would tackle the high interest rate / high dollar rate spiral either, other than the fact they are not interested in cross party talks on the issue. The only finance policy they have is tax-cuts, you can't run a country on tax-cuts alone. I can't imagine the Nats would ever make any necessary changes to the Reserve Bank Act either, after all it was a "right-wing" Act / policy to start off with anyway. John Key is "all veneer and no wood" and the Nats front bench, except for Key himself, has that "been used before and failed" look about it. Labour have shown us that they are prepared to tackle the hard issues head-on and do what needs to be done when life throws a curve ball, despite "ill-advised" public opinion on most issues from Opposition parties and the media. Go Labour, stick to your guns and what you believe is right - just like your initial support for Team NZ, despite early criticism. This attitude will always win out in the end I am sure, better than "mamby-pamby" indecisiveness anyway!
JC (Wellington)
I think that Labour is on the way back. They had some rough times earlier this year but Helen Clark now seems to be back on the front foot which is great. They have run a good economy and the country is doing well.People will have seen John Key boasting about winning a landslide. I saw that and wondered about him. He was wrong on two big issues and has changed his mind on both of them - climate change (which he denied) and the Iraq War (which he supported). I reckon that landslide comment made a few other people wonder about him as well. What other big issues would he get wrong if he was Prime Minister, and what damage would be done to New Zealand as a result? It makes you think.
James (Christchurch)
The polls will move around a great deal over the next few months, but I don't see Labour regaining a lead. The rot has well and truly set in. Whether National can pull off an election victory is still an unanswered question, but if National is still tracking steadily above 48 per cent and holds its lead, this looks increasingly likely, whether Labour is on 40 per cent or 30 per cent.
Albert
I'll be very concerned if Labour wins this election, which I doubt it. The reasons: 1) Pete Hodgson presented a $500m credit for NZ when he presented the Kyoto protocol, and it turned out that it will cost taxpayers over $500m instead, then he's spent $4b in health, and it got worst, 2) Steve Maharey promised 20-hr 'free' childcare which turns out to be a subsidy from the other parents, 3) Michael Cullen, finance minister, in a TV interview when asked about the $3b surplus, replied that it's been spent already. Further he says the govt cannot afford tax-cuts and tax surpluses go up by the billions. 4) Helen Clark says that NZ is not a Christian country, ok, then why is there no trading on Easter? 5) They want to get tough on criminals by banning this and that, and with light sentences in a holiday camp is no deterrent, isn't it? And the list goes on. What investor in the right frame of mind would invest in any company with a bunch of clowns who cannot get their figures right or do not have any consistency in the decision they make? Aren't you guys concerned? If they win again, I'll be on my way to join my fellow kiwis across the Tasman. I am sure I'm not alone.