National takes a tumble in polls after teapot tape

Prime Minister John Key's popularity may have been dented by the tea tape saga. Photo / Dean Purcell

The first polls since the teapot tapes controversy paint different pictures of the fallout for National Party, with one showing support for the current Government at its lowest point since the 2008 election.

The other poll shows the controversy has barely caused a ripple.

Prime Minister John Key is refusing to reveal what he discussed with Act candidate John Banks at Friday's meeting at an Epsom cafe.

But he is suffering as a result, with mounting pressure to reveal what was said, criticism over his decision to go to the police over the tape and his tantrum when pressed by the media on the issue.

New Zealand First has made mileage out of the controversy, gaining favour with voters, while Labour has failed to capitalise on Mr Key's discomfiture.

A TV3 Reid Research poll, released tonight, showed support for National had dropped 3.1 points to 50.2 per cent - the lowest level since the party won the 2008 election.

That figure would still give the party 64 seats in Parliament, enough to govern alone.

Support for New Zealand First increased 1.1 points to 3.5 per cent, bringing the party closer to the 5 per cent threshold needed to get into Parliament.

The Green Party increased 2.8 points to 13.0 per cent, which would give it a seven-member boost to 16 seats.

The Act Party also gained 1.1 points, to 1.8 per cent, giving it three seats if Mr Banks won the Epsom electorate.

Support for Labour dropped 2.5 points to 27.4 per cent, losing the party eight seats.

The Maori Party lost 0.1 points, to 1.3 per cent, while the Conservative and Mana parties remained unchanged on 1.1 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively.

Mr Key had 49.0 per cent support as preferred prime minister, while Labour leader Phil Goff was on 10.0 per cent and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters on 4.0 per cent.

Meanwhile, a One News Colmar Brunton poll shows National support down a point to 53 per cent, while Labour has dropped to a ten-year low with 26 per cent.

The Green Party picked up Labour party votes to put them on a record high of 13 per cent.

And while NZ First had had more attention, it still had less than half the support it needed to get back into Parliament.

Of the minor parties, the Conservative Party picked up support to 1.4 per cent, while New Zealand First had 2.2 per cent, Act and the Maori Party had 1.6 per cent each, Mana had 1.3 per cent and United Future 0.3 per cent.

If an election were held today National would govern alone with 66 seats.

One News said Mr Key had not suffered significantly from the tape scandal, dropping 2 points as preferred prime minister to 53 per cent. Mr Goff was on 13 per cent.

Results of the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey will be revealed tomorrow.