The latest Newshub-Reid research poll shows the Covid-19 pandemic has propelled Labour into a position where it could govern alone.

It has climbed to 56.5% – an increase of 14 percentage points.

Newshub Political Editor Tova O’Brien says “the pandemic has dealt National a devastating blow, falling to 30.6% – down 12.7 percentage points on our last poll”.

Labour’s popularity has also cost its coalition partners. New Zealand First is down 0.9 percentage points to record 2.7% support – not enough to return to Parliament. The Greens are holding reasonably steady at 5.5%, while Act is rock solid at 1.8%.

Jacinda Ardern has soared as preferred Prime Minister “up an astounding 20.8 percentage points to 59.5%. That makes her the most popular Prime Minister in the poll’s history. Simon Bridges’ popularity has crashed to 4.5% – down by 6.1 percentage points – but still ahead of Judith Collins who is on 3.1%.”

Tova O’Brien says “We have never seen anything like the results in our latest Newshub-Reid Research Poll but the country’s never experienced anything quite like Covid-19. These are extraordinary numbers for extraordinary times and the implications of this poll will be far-reaching for every party in Parliament.”

The latest Newshub-Reid Research Poll was conducted between 8-16 May 2020. 1000 people were surveyed, 700 by telephone and 300 by internet panel. It has a margin of error of 3.1 percent.

**The previous Newshub-Reid Research poll was conducted between January 23 and February 1 with a sample size of 1000 eligible voters and a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.