Andrew Little might've lost out to Jacinda Ardern in the preferred Prime Minister stakes, but he has beaten her when it comes to preferred Labour leader.
The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll asked who should lead the Labour Party, with 46 percent choosing Mr Little, compared to 38 percent choosing Ms Ardern.
It's a result that's finally put a smile on Mr Little's face, who has been under pressure over Ms Ardern being more popular.
"Jacinda and I are a strong team, and we've got 30 other colleagues who are part of that strong team, so I'm very pleased about that," Mr Little told Newshub.
Among Labour voters it was higher for Mr Little, with 59 percent saying he should be leader.
"Of course that's good. In the end, what Labour supporters want is a Labour Party that's fit and ready to govern and ready to fight the campaign and win on the 23rd of September," he said.
Ms Ardern is more than happy to concede to Mr Little in the poll, especially after she leapfrogged her leader in the preferred prime minister stakes.
"There's been a poll that reinforces Labour's view that Andrew Little should be the leader of the Labour Party? This shouldn't surprise anyone," she told Newshub.
Ms Ardern did slightly better than Mr Little in the poll's preferred prime minister stakes - in which those surveyed are unprompted and name who they want to be PM.
But when asked specifically who should be Labour leader out of Mr Little and Ms Ardern, Mr Little just came out on top.
However, Green Party voters and New Zealand First voters prefer Ms Ardern over Mr Little, with 48 percent of Green supporters and 45 percent of New Zealand First supporters choosing her.
"I'm more intrigued with the New Zealand First result, to be honest," she said with a laugh.
The Newshub-Reid Research poll was conducted March 10-19. A thousand people were surveyed, 750 by telephone and 250 by internet panel. It has a margin of error of 3.1 percent.
Newshub.
