Just over a third of voters believe Christopher Luxon is the best person to lead National, while almost the same number want someone else from the party's frontbench in the top job, a new 1News Verian poll reveals.
The poll, conducted between November 29 and December 3, found 35% of those surveyed backed Luxon as best to lead National, but 31% felt another MP would be better suited for the role, while 35% didn’t know or preferred not to say.
In contrast, former prime minister Chris Hipkins received stronger backing, with 45% of voters saying he was best for the job of the Labour leadership.
Twenty-three per cent of voters thought another Labour MP would be better to lead the party, while 32% didn't know or preferred not to say.
1News Verian Poll shows Luxon's support less solid than Labour leader's - Watch on TVNZ+
Leaders remain resolute of being contenders in the general election now a year away. (Source: 1News)
Bishop rumour denied – again
Of the 31% of voters who picked another National MP to serve as leader, 13% chose Chris Bishop, 9% chose Erica Stanford, 5% chose Nicola Willis, and 4% chose Simeon Brown.
Those polled were asked: "Which of the following National MPs do you think would be best to lead the party?"
Bishop, a senior minister, has emerged as a heavily rumoured potential alternative to Luxon in the past several weeks. He also appeared curiously on 2% as preferred prime minister in the wider 1News Verian poll released yesterday.
"I'm keen on getting RMA reform done today, which is what I'm about to do," Bishop replied when again queried by media about rumours of a leadership bid.
Meanwhile, Luxon said his leadership was "very safe".
Former PM continues to lead Labour
On the opposition benches, of the 23% polled who chose another Labour MP as their preferred leader, 12% chose Kieran McAnulty, 6% chose Carmel Sepuloni, while 3% chose Peeni Henare and Barbara Edmonds respectively.
Those polled were asked: "Which of the following Labour MPs do you think would be best to lead the party?"
McAnulty told 1News he had "never wanted to be leader and that's not gonna change".
"We've got a fantastic leader in Chris Hipkins," another Labour MP said, "and we're certainly not in the market for a new one."
When asked how safe his leadership was, Hipkins responded simply: "Very."
The former prime minister's survival as party leader was uncertain following his party's shattering election defeat and fall from government at the last election.
See the full poll results here
Between November 29 and December 3 2025, 1007 eligible voters were polled by mobile phone (500) and online, using online panels (507). The maximum sampling error is approximately ±3.1%-points at the 95% confidence level. Party support percentages have been rounded up or down to whole numbers, except those less than 4.5%, which are reported to one decimal place. The data has been weighted to align with Stats NZ population counts for age, gender, region, ethnic identification and education level. The sample for mobile phones is selected by random dialling using probability sampling, and the online sample is collected using an online panel. Undecided voters, non-voters and those who refused to answer are excluded from the data on party support. The results are a snapshot in time of party support, and not a prediction.
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