They usually have their differences – but some of New Zealand’s minor political parties have shared a similar sentiment after a gain in the latest 1News Varian poll.
Both National and Labour slid in the poll, released last night. New Zealand First, on the other hand, moved to its strongest position in eight years to 8%.
While New Zealand First leader Winston Peters gave his usual response – “we’ve never believed in the polls in this country” – he was happy to talk about the support for his party.
“What we’re focused on is packing the halls out around the countryside of New Zealand, speaking to all sorts of people.
“We’re going to carry on doing that, because its what politics should be about, not eating sausage rolls, eating ice cream, and having sort of shows that don’t concern the real people.”
When asked specifically why Labour and National may have dropped in support however, Peters said he knew plenty but wasn’t so keen to be specific.
“I know why it is, but I think I should keep it to myself.”
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, however, was happy to fill in the gap of where she felt the major parties were falling short. Her party had also risen 2% to a total of 12%.
“I think New Zealanders have known for a really long time now the status quo business as usual is not working for them.
“So understandably, they’re looking to other quarters for where ideas could possibly be put on the table to try and solve these really big issues.
“That’s why I’m in the Green Party, because we know the climate crisis and inequality crisis are deeply intertwined and driven by the same forces.”
The ACT Party had a decrease of 1% in the recent poll, but sat equal at 8% with New Zealand First. Its leader David Seymour said, after 18-months in Government, having roughly the same support in the polls before election night in 2023 was “positive result and solid foundation” for the next 18-months.
“We don’t break out the Champagne if we go up and we probably don’t cry into our beer if we go down either. These things go up and down but at the end of the day New Zealand is faced a pretty tough economy still, and our job is to keep dealing to that.”
Seymour was quick to shoot down the idea ACT would compete for votes with New Zealand First, calling it a “dream of political journalists”.
“You can bend over backwards trying to find grand theories but, unfortunately, no matter how much TV1 pays for the poll, a lot of it is just small changes from poll to poll.
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“The Coalition remains ahead in this poll because fundamentally we’re solving the hard problems which the opposition either doesn’t have answers for, or has some pretty crazy answers for.”
Te Pāti Māori was up 1% in the latest poll to 4%. Its co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, said he thought the support was due to “the movement doing really well”.
He referenced the large numbers of people who turned up to last year’s hīkoi, as well as the large number of views their haka received online after it was performed in the House during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill.
“We’re really confident that the support for Te Pāti Māori is pretty consistent and that, come 2026, we will be well over the 5%.”
Waititi said the drop in support for both National and Labour told him “MMP is working”.
“It is working they way it should be working, giving voice to those marginalised and disenfranchised and smaller communities.”
Waititi, unlike the leaders of the other parties, was happy to comment on a potential competition over votes between New Zealand First and ACT.
“The actual enemy for New Zealand First is ACT, and the actual enemy for ACT is New Zealand First. Here’s their problem, they will be fighting for the same voter. They’ll kick the Greens and The Māori Party as hard as they can for the support of their voters.”
Labour and National respond
Similar to the minor parties, both National and Labour shared similar comment on why their support may have dropped.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said: “There’s lots of different polls doing lots of different things. I am focussed on delivering for New Zealanders and that means making sure we drive more economic growth into this country.
“I have three years, I have 12 quarters to get things done for New Zealanders, they’ll make that decision at the next election, that’s all I care about.”
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said: “We expect the polls bounce around a bit at this point in the electoral cycle. We’re focussed on making sure we’re building our support as we head towards next year’s election.”