Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon. File photo supplied
The coalition Government clings to its lead, but the Labour Party remains the largest party in the final Taxpayers’ Union-Curia political poll of 2025.
Concern over the cost of living is at its highest level since May, 2024.
The poll shows Labour drops 1.7 points to 31.6 per cent, while the National Party drops 0.2 points to 30 per cent.
The Greens gain 1.6 points to 10.8 per cent, while ACT gains 0.3 points to 8.9 per cent.
New Zealand First drops 1.0 points to 8.1 per cent, while Te Pāti Māori drops 0.2 points to 3.1 per cent.
For the minor parties, NZ Outdoors and Freedom is on 1.0 per cent (-0.5 points), TOP is on 1.6 per cent (+0.4 points), New Conservatives are on 1.0 per cent (-0.2 points), and Vision NZ is on 0.3 per cent (-0.1 points).
The combined projected seats for the centre-right is down one seat to 61 seats.
The combined seats for the centre-left is down one to 59.
On those numbers, the centre-right bloc could form a Government.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s net favourability drops three points to -13 per cent, while Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins drops five points to -7 per cent.
In the major voting issues, cost of living has jumped 4.1 points to 32.6 per cent.
This is more than double the next closest issue, with the economy on 14.8 per cent (-2.8 points).
Commenting on the results, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross says: “With Christmas around the corner, cost of living is front-and-centre in voters’ minds again.
“A third of Kiwis now rate it as their most important issue, which is the greatest level of concern since May, 2024.
“The number of people placing ‘policies’ as their top issue is the highest it has been in nearly two years.
“A drop in Hipkins’ preferred prime minister ranking, net favourability, and his party’s vote share shows Labour’s first election policy announcements may not have landed how Labour had hoped.
“Neither bloc will be entering election year feeling comfortable with these results.”