A new poll in New Zealand shows that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Labour Party are now more unpopular than the main opposition National Party.
A poll released last week showed that 39% of Kiwis preferred the National Party over the 37% that still plumped for the Labour Party. This is the first time in more than two years that the National Party has had a lead in opinion polls over the Labour Party.
Ardern’s personal approval ratings are, however, a bit firmer, with 34% of New Zealanders saying that she was their preferred Prime Minister. Only a quarter of those polled went for Christopher Luxon, the National Party leader. Luxon, a former CEO of Air New Zealand, has been leader since November last year, which made him the party’s fourth leader in the space of only three years.
The fall in the Labour Party’s rating comes amid a difficult few weeks for New Zealand, with a rise in Covid cases, coupled with public protests over various pandemic-related restrictions. Kiwis are also chafing against a rise in the cost of living, with inflation expected to hit 7% this year.
New Zealand must hold its next election no later than January 2024 although most observers expect it to be held next year sometime.