National and Labour neck and neck in latest poll

The National Party has risen one percentage point to 29% while Labour remains steady at 28% in the latest 1News Verian poll. This result places both major parties in the 20s, following an earlier RNZ Reid-Research poll that showed National at 25.9% and Labour at 30.8%.

The Opportunity Party has increased its support to 7%, which would grant it eight seats and the role of kingmaker. Both the right-wing bloc and the left-wing bloc are forecast to tie with 58 seats each, meaning Opportunity would decide which coalition forms the next government.

National leader Christopher Luxon has ruled out working with Opportunity due to their land value tax policy. Luxon stated, "We want to work with parties that want no new taxes. It’s as simple as that". Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong described this stance as "old school politics".

In preferred prime minister rankings, Christopher Luxon leads with 20%, while Chris Hipkins has risen to 18%. Other leaders include Winston Peters at 9%, Chlöe Swarbrick at 7%, David Seymour at 5%, and Kieran McAnulty at 2%.

How it developed

• Tue 6 Oct, 7:10pmThe report notes that the 1News Verian poll had a higher undecided vote of 11% compared to 6% in the RNZ-Reid Research poll.

Where reports differ

• The RNZ-Reid Research poll placed Labour ahead of National by 5 points, whereas the 1News Verian poll has National ahead by 1 point.

Compiled from reports by Stuff, 1News, The Post, NZ Herald and RNZ.