10 Nov 2011

National well ahead again in Fairfax poll

6:35 am on 10 November 2011

The National Party is holding its ground in the latest political opinion poll but the Labour Party has fallen back.

In the Fairfax Media-Research International Poll released on Wednesday, support for National remains about the same on 52.5%.

Labour has dropped from 31.3% in last week's poll, to 25.9%.

Support for the Green Party rises to 12.6%.

The Greens are the only smaller party to register above 5% in the poll.

New Zealand First is on 2.8%, the Maori Party is on 1.5% and ACT is on 1%.

The Mana Party and United Future are below 1%.

Labour Party leader Phil Goff says he is confident Labour's support will rise.

Campaigning in Napier and Hastings on Wednesday, he said there was a lot of support for Labour out in the community.

Mr Goff said he believed issues such as asset sales, that have dominated the campaign so far, will be the ones that determine the election.

The survey of 1000 people was taken over five days finishing on Monday. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%.