More than half of New Zealand voters prefer Labour leader Jacinda Ardern over National leader Judith Collins as Prime Minister.
The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll shows the preferred Prime Minister numbers have barely budged, with Ardern on 52.6 percent down 0.6 points compared to Collins on 18.4 percent up 0.7 points.
It's the final countdown to the election and who will stand tall is up to the 3.4 million voters, and both Collins and Ardern are confident they're going to win.
Preferred Prime Minister
- Jacinda Ardern - 52.6 percent
- Judith Collins - 18.4 percent
"I'm hoping it's going to be us and I'm just really positive about it all," Collins told Newshub.
"We're out campaigning today working hard for a Labour win," Ardern said.
If she doesn't win, it's over for Ardern, who is promising to step down as Labour leader if that happens.
"If you aren't successful at an election, it's time to give someone else a go," she said. "Of course, I'm working very hard to remain in the job."
But Collins is making no such promise.
"Not, definitely not," Collins said, when asked if she will step down as leader if National loses the election. "Absolutely focussed on making sure that if we don't win, that we are a really strong Opposition."
Collins explained why she won't resign.
"Number one, I think we're going to win, and secondly there's no reason to."
Pledging to fall on her sword is entirely tactical by Ardern - she's smoking Collins out.
"No, not at all," Ardern insisted. "This is a view I've long held."
Collins sees her position as different to Ardern's.
"She's just had three years as Prime Minister and so that would be a normal thing for her to do. It certainly wouldn't be something I would do."
On the latest poll results, Ardern has the numbers to take the risk, and it's not just the numbers - Ardern has the momentum. Her campaign has been stacked with moments where huge crowds gather to see her.
Through mall after mall after marker after street, Ardern has been inundated with people and with gifts, most for her daughter.
"Neve will ask me who made it for her and yesterday she yelled out to nobody 'thank you lady' for the gift she was given, so that kind of generosity from New Zealanders is lovely," Ardern said.
Collins has definitely had her moments too, as National leader and best-selling author.
But it's also been fraught with fiscal holes, leaks, planted supporters, and just general malfunction. And she was up against a leadership behemoth during a crisis.
"It was certainly much harder, particularly when we had the Labour leader as the Prime Minister standing up every day on a 1pm message to the people," Collins said. "That's a pretty difficult thing to deal with."
None of that matters now. It's out of their hands. It's entirely up to you - the voter - you have the power to decide who's in power.
The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll was conducted between 8-15 October 2020, and 1000 people were surveyed - 700 by telephone and 300 by internet panel. It has a margin of error of 3.1 percent.
