Goff takes fall in latest ratings

Labour leader Phil Goff's personal popularity has taken a dive, a new poll shows.

The TV One Colmar Brunton poll showed little change in the ratings for the two large political parties but put Mr Goff's ranking for preferred Prime Minister at 5 per cent. That's down four points on the organisation's last poll in September.

Prime Minister John Key was even more popular than before - up four points to 54 per cent support.

However, Mr Goff's result does not take into account his speech last week in which he accused the National government of reopening racial wounds and of "pork bone" politics resulting in "shoddy" and "cynical" deals.

Former National leader Don Brash scored a sharp rise in the polls after his Orewa speech, in which he talked about one law for all, which Mr Goff's speech has been compared to.

The poll put support for National on 53 per cent, down one point, and Labour on 31 per cent, down two points. The Greens got a significant three-point boost to 7 per cent, the Maori Party were steady on 3 per cent and Act was down a point to 2 per cent. Parties need a minimum 5 per cent to be elected unless they hold an electorate seat.

The poll also found 77 per cent thought Maori MP Hone Harawira's recent "white motherf....." email was racist and 69 per cent thought he should leave Parliament.

The poll of 1000 voters had a margin of error of 3.1 per cent. It was conducted between November 21 and 25.

- NZPA