The Chris contest has a clear winner, according to the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll results.
The preferred Prime Minister rankings show the public is continuing to warm to Labour's Chris Hipkins. He's on 23.4 percent, up 3.8 points.
"Voters can make their judgements based on the personality traits or the characteristics of each individual leader. I am just going to be myself," Hipkins said.
But his challenger, National's Christopher Luxon, has dropped to 16.4 percent, down 2.4 points.
That's not only his lowest score yet on our poll, but it's lower than what former leader Judith Collins scored on our last preferred Prime Minister rankings ahead of the 2020 election.
"I am working really hard. I have got a lot more work to do over the next five months," Luxon said.
"I am very focused on the poll that really matters, which is October 14, and making my case and explaining to the New Zealand people as to what I think needs to happen and that is a Government which will get things done."
Meanwhile, 8.5 percent are keen on a return from Jacinda Ardern and 7.5 percent want David Seymour in the top job. There's also 3.6 percent wishing for Winston Peters, and 2.3 percent wanting Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick. The Greens co-leaders again didn't rate.
The Newshub-Reid Research poll was conducted between 5 May – 11 May 2023 with a margin of error of 3.1 percent.
