Opposition leader and Botany MP Christopher Luxon is downplaying the latest poll results which show a significant improvement for both the National Party and the new leader too.
Luxon, who became National Party leader on November 30 replacing Judith Collins, has leapt up the preferred Prime Minister stakes 13 per cent to 17 per cent in the 1 News Kantar Public Poll released last week.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s spot is still relatively safe despite a 4 per cent drop to 35 per cent.
Meanwhile, the National Party has edged forward in terms of party support with those polled giving the National Party 4 per cent more of the party vote to 32 per cent. The Labour Party’s party vote eased 1 per cent to 40 per cent.
National’s rise appears to be at the expense of centre-right ally ACT whose party vote is down 3 per cent to 11 per cent.
The Green Party meanwhile is steady at 9 per cent, New Zealand First was down 1 per cent to 2 per cent while the Maori Party and The Opportunities Party (TOP) were each up 1 per cent in the polling to 2 per cent.
The poll also asked participants of their view of the country’s economic outlook. Optimism took a hit – down 7 per cent to 22 per cent while pessimism was up 2 per cent to 49 per cent.
Luxon told the Times from the party’s caucus retreat in c that the party’s mission is to hold Labour to account while working for Kiwis.
“It’s [the poll results] positive and encouraging but there’s lots of work to do and we’ll continue to focus on the issues that matter to New Zealanders,” Luxon said.
“We’ll keep opposing the Government’s wasteful spending and non-delivery, but also be proposing practical solutions.”
