Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the Government “won’t be popular with everybody” as it works to overturn the “mess” he says it inherited.
Yesterday’s 1News Verian Poll showed the coalition is holding a steady grip on public support, but the result showed seats would be lost for National and gained for Labour if an election was to be held.
The poll also found 40% of voters think New Zealand was in “worse shape” and 30% “better shape” than before the election.
In the preferred prime minister stakes, National’s Luxon remained on top with 25%, but his support was down 3% on the last poll.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Luxon said: “I want to acknowledge upfront, it’s incredibly tough times for New Zealanders.
“We’ve been dealing with high inflation, high interest rates – but I do feel that things are improving and I do think there are encouraging signs of some good progress.”
For example, Luxon predicted inflation would be below 3% “and heading downwards” in tomorrow’s announcement.
“We’ve had two interest rate cuts just in recent months, which is fantastic,” he continued.
“But I do want to be upfront and say, look, we are dealing with the hangover of incredible economic mismanagement of the previous six years,” Luxon said.
“It is a tough time for Kiwis but we’ve got a plan and I think we should be really encouraged, we can get ourselves out of this, and then we can get onto the pathway of realising all the great potential that’s in this country.”
Asked about his preferred prime minister poll result, Luxon said the Government had to make “tough” decisions because it inherited a “mess”.
“That means that we won’t be popular with everybody, I get that,” he added.
“But actually, I’ve got to make the right decisions for the long-term, I’ve got to make the right decisions that set New Zealand up for a great future – which I honestly believe that we can have – and obviously, voters will make their decision around that in 2026.
“I’m confident, by then, they’ll see that our plan is working.
“As I said before, I think you’re starting to see some early signs and encouraging signs that that is the case.”
Labour’s poll reaction
Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday said the poll showed that much of the public could see the current Government was “taking New Zealand backwards”.
He said those who voted for change at the election did not think they were voting to “increase smoking [or] to cut funding for the health system and send it into crisis [or] cutting funding to build new homes”.
“Those are the very things this Government have done and I don’t think that’s what Kiwis had in mind when they voted for change at the last election.”
In the preferred prime minister stakes Hipkins was also down 3%, to 15%.