KEY POINTS:
Tina Evans reckons the handful of lonely coffee beans in her NZ First jar is as good an indication as any to Winston Peters' political future.
The Muffin Break Auckland store manager has become a pseudo-political scientist over the last five weeks, as the chain runs its third election poll - inviting customers to vote for their preferred party by casting a coffee bean in canisters.
In the Downtown store, New Zealand First has been winning at the wrong end for the entire life of the poll, Ms Evans said.
"For the first two weeks there were only five beans.
"It was a bit sad."
While support had picked up for the party over the last week, in-store it still trailed National, Labour, the Greens and "others" - an amalgamation of the remaining parties.
But Brian Lewis, who bought a cappuccino when the Herald visited, was backing Mr Peters.
"I reckon we still need him, he's done some good things."
With "one bean, one vote" rules, there's no MMP intricacies to deal with. General manager Garry Croft said interest had been so high that many stores had to empty their tubes and readjust proportionally to keep the poll going.
Nationally 90,000 beans have been cast, with National on 45 per cent, followed by Labour on 32 per cent, the Greens on 11 per cent and New Zealand First on 4 per cent. Others make up the remaining 8 per cent.
While customers were initially "tentative" about making their choices, as the days count down to election weekend, most are now making their picks without any hesitation, Ms Evans said.
"I think they've heard the policies and they've made up their minds."
Although unscientific, the poll has picked the last two election results.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
