Rotorua Labour candidate Ben Sandford says polls promising

Labour candidate Ben Sandford says the party's message is resonating with voters. Photo/File

The Labour Party have hit their highest poll results since 2006 but the party's Rotorua candidate says there is still a lot of work to do.

The latest One News Colmar Brunton Poll, taken between August 26-31, placed the Labour Party at 43 per cent, against National's 41 per cent.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern also came in as the preferred Prime Minister, beating National's Bill English by 1 per cent.

When Ms Ardern took over as the party's leader on August 1 her party polled at 24 per cent and she was 22 per cent behind Mr English as preferred Prime Minister.

Rotorua Labour candidate Ben Sandford said the results were promising.

"I think the Labour Party message and vision is really resonating with voters and Jacinda is doing a really great job articulating that," he said.

"That also means we have to carry on working really hard, there's a huge amount of work to do to make sure people get out and vote."

Mr Sandford said he hoped the polls were a reflection of what could happen in Rotorua.

"Three weeks in an election cycle is a really long time," he said.

"Definitely we're more confident, but not complacent."

But Rotorua MP Todd McClay said this was just one of many polls and a bit out of step with what his National party was seeing.

"It does show how close the election may be," he said.

"We will continue to campaign hard nationally and in Rotorua.

"I'm getting a very positive response in Rotorua that our Government is delivering for local people and dealing with the difficult issues."

Below the top two parties NZ First polled at 8 per cent, the Greens at 5 per cent and both The Opportunities Party and Maori Party at 1 per cent.