Poll puts NZ First back in contention

A new poll has New Zealand First at 6 per cent of the vote - enough to see its leader, Winston Peters, return to Parliament and play a key role in deciding which party governs the country after the next general election.

NZ First won just over 4 per cent of the vote in the 2008 general election and Mr Peters lost his Tauranga seat, meaning the party did not make it back into Parliament.

The Horizon Poll had National on 34.7 per cent, Labour on 28.3 and the Greens at 7.9.

Behind NZ First's 6 per cent were ACT on 2.6, the Maori Party and Progressives both on 1.2 and United Future well behind on 0.2 per cent.

The Horizon Poll, which not only puts NZ First much further ahead than recent polls but puts National well down, was unique in that it asked undecided voters which way they were leaning and included that in its figures.

Despite that, 8.1 per cent were still undecided and 8.2 per cent preferred not to say who they would vote for.

The poll questioned almost 2000 voters in November and had a margin of error of 2.2 per cent.

- NZPA