New poll shows three-way race for Waitakere

3.15pm

A political poll in the vital seat of Waitakere has Alliance hopes of returning to Parliament still alive.

Labour candidate Lynne Pillay has 28 per cent support, ahead of Alliance leader Laila Harre on 21 per cent, and National candidate Marie Hasler on 20 per cent.

A margin of error of 4.2 per cent in the Consumer Link poll means Waitakere remained a three-way neck and neck race.

An Alliance poll on Sunday showed Auckland put Ms Harre on 27.5 per cent, Ms Pillay on 19.4 per cent and Ms Hasler on 18.9 per cent.

Prime Minister Helen Clark initially said the Alliance had made up a poll, but she still refused to accept the results.

That poll of the West Auckland seat was done by CBG Research, run by Ms Harre's husband Barry Gribben,

Today's poll was commissioned by the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, which Ms Pillay is an organiser for.

Waitakere is do or die for the Alliance.

To get any MPs into Parliament it needs to attract at least 5 per cent of the party vote, or win a seat.

Nationwide polls have it attracting at best 1.4 per cent, so a win in Waitakere is essential.

- NZPA

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