Polls show narrowing gap between leading parties

After a bad week in Parliament things are not looking any rosier for Labour with two polls showing National is closing the gap.

Yesterday's Herald on Sunday-Digipoll survey, a snap poll of 500 voters, found the gap was smaller with Labour on 41.6 per cent and National on 37.

The poll has a margin of error of 4.4 per cent.

Friday's National Business Review-Phillips Fox poll put just seven points between the two big parties, with National on 34 per cent and Labour on 41.

Its March poll put 13 points between the parties.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday that a snap poll could not be compared with other larger polls, but added the Government had been dealing with difficult issues of late.

That includes questions over whether Helen Clark acted appropriately in speaking to a newspaper five years ago about allegations around former police commissioner Peter Doone and a series of attacks by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters on the Immigration Service.

NZ First went up two points to nine in the NBR poll and the Green Party up one point to seven.

Yesterday's poll had the Greens polling as the third most popular party on 7.7 and NZ First on 6.8.

Both those parties have been campaigning hard on the ground over the past month.

Some commentators have suggested that with genetic engineering issues off the political radar screen the Greens might struggle this election.

Green co-leader Rod Donald said yesterday that the two polls proved them wrong and that voters were interested in the range of issues the party was focusing on.

Mr Peters, whose preferred Prime Minister rating rose to 17.7 in yesterday's poll, poured cold water on the accuracy of the party polling, saying it was inconsistent with his personal rating.

Mr Donald said although he had long had a private member's bill in the ballot calling for a fixed election date, it was still the Prime Minister's prerogative to determine the date under existing law.

He remained convinced the election would be held in September, rather than as early as July, but said it was almost immaterial as either way the campaign was essentially underway.

Poll watch

NBR-Phillips Fox

* Labour 41
* National 34

Herald on Sunday-Digipoll

* Labour 41.6
* National 37

New Zealand Herald-Digipoll

* Labour 44.7
* National 33.2