National's popularity following publication of the Dirty Politics book shows a disconnect between what the public and media focus on, the party's campaign chairman Steven Joyce says.
The Stuff-Ipsos and New Zealand Herald-Digipoll surveys out this morning indicate the National Party would be able to govern alone.
This morning's Fairfax's Stuff-Ipsos poll puts National on 54.2 per cent, up 3.4 points, while Labour has slipped 1.8 to 24.3 per cent. The Green Party has risen 1.1 percentage points to 12.9 and was the only other party to gain ground since the last poll in August.
The New Zealand Herald-Digipoll survey shows National's support at 50.1 per cent, which would bring it 63 seats. It needs 61 seats to govern alone. The poll also shows Labour falling, to 23.8 per cent. Among the minor parties, New Zealand First rose 1 point to 6 per cent, the Conservatives' support increased to 3.8 per cent and the Green Party is unchanged at 11.4 per cent.
Joyce told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme that despite strong polling, National was not assuming it would govern alone.
He said the party was not expecting the kind of result shown in the polls on election day, and having partnerships with several parties created a stronger more stable Government.
