22 Apr 2013

Shearer says latest poll follows trend

9:29 am on 22 April 2013

The Labour Party leader, David Shearer, says the latest One News Colmar Brunton poll, which has support for the National Party dropping to 43 percent, follows a trend.

The 43% support for National is down six points from February's poll and its lowest level since 2005.

But the 3 News Reid Research poll had better news for National.

While the party lost some support it still garnered 49.4%, well ahead of its rivals.

In the same poll, Labour's support was up to 36% and the Green Party was on 13%.

Mr Shearer said he was not worried by the 3 News poll because, while "polls bounce around a bit", most of the recent ones seem to be "marching in the same direction".

David Shearer says people are starting to look at Labour as an alternative government.

Prime Minister John Key's personal support also fell by five points to 39%.

Mr Key says he's not too worried by the polls saying he'll take it with a grain of salt.

He says National has not been able to govern alone in any of the elections, even though it's had very strong results.

'I've got to step up to that'

David Shearer says he needs to work harder to lift public confidence in his leadership.

In the One News Colmar Brunton poll, support for him as preferred prime minister remains low.

In the 3 News Reid Research poll, Mr Shearer lost some personal support.

He says he knows he has to step up and he will be focussing on that in the next few months.

Both the One News and 3 News polls surveyed just over 1000 people and have margins of errors of plus or minus 3.1%.