National's poll rise due to 'big issues' focus - Key

Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister John Key has put National's good result in a new poll down to New Zealanders' focus on the "big issues''.

A One News Colmar Brunton poll released yesterday showed support for National was at 51 per cent, up 1 percentage point since the last poll before the general election last November.

The poll surveyed more than a 1000 people between March 24 and 28, the period that included the resignation of former cabinet minister Nick Smith and continuing questions about ACC.

Mr Key told Newstalk ZB today that the results showed New Zealanders cared about issues such as local government and public services rather than things that did not affect their day-to-day lives.

"It shows you that the voting public can see that we're addressing the big issues that really matter,'' he said.

The poll showed Labour and the Greens also increased their support by 1 point each, up to 29 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

New Zealand First was down 1 point to 3 per cent support, and Act and the Maori Party were both on 1 per cent, also after 1-point drops.

Mana was unchanged on 1 per cent.

In the preferred prime minister stakes, Mr Key dropped 4 points to 48 per cent, while Labour leader David Shearer received 11 per cent support in his first poll appearance, and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters remained on 3 per cent.