Senior Minister Chris Bishop says National does "not want to be on 29% on election day" after a recent 1News poll indicated support for his party was slipping.
Both National and Labour took falls in the latest 1News Verian poll, with National dropping one point to 29% and Labour tumbling five points to 32%.
That support appeared to be eaten by smaller parties, with the likes of NZ First, the Greens, and Opportunity all seeing gains – the latter on the cusp of breaking into Parliment.
On Breakfast this morning, Bishop was asked for his reaction to the latest poll result.
"We've got a long way to go towards the election," he said. "We obviously want to be higher than what we're on at the moment."
"I don't think anyone would expect me to say anything else, but there's a long way to go."
He said National was in the middle of announcing policy while also governing during challenging economic times, and the party was "focused on the job ahead."
If the poll result held at the election, it would put current National MPs at threat of not returning for the next term.
Bishop is the MP for Hutt South, a seat that has been held by both National and Labour in recent times.
Should Bishop fail to win it in November, it would leave him relying on the list - meaning he could miss out altogether should National's party vote remain low.
Bishop said that was "always a possibility".
"The number one vote that matters, of course, is the party vote, and we do want that party vote to be higher. No doubt about that.
"We do not want to be on 29% on election day," he said.
The minister also said the poll result reflected what was happening in politics all around the world.
"There's a fracturing across multiple different parliaments, and if you look at what's happening in the UK, Australia, for example, you've got the rise of these parties on the left and the right on the fringes, some would say.
"In New Zealand, that hasn't really happened until maybe the last couple of years or so."
Opportunity knocks at 5% threshold as both Labour and National have taken falls. (Source: 1News)
He said National was focused on staying as a "mainstream centre-right" party.
Labour MP Kieran McAnulty, joining Bishop on Breakfast, said that despite the tumble in the polls, he was "pretty relaxed" about where his party was.
"It's still considerably higher than where we were at the last election, and we're part of a group that would have the numbers on your poll to become government."
He said Labour's election results were often higher than those of the polls, and was "not too concerned", calling it a "good poll for us".
Minor party race heats up with Opportunity rising to a record rating with voters. (Source: 1News)
McAnulty was asked if National's support falling into the 20s was enough reason to force a leadership change. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sits on 18% as preferred Prime Minister.
"I think the chance to roll Luxon's probably done," he said. "There's been a couple of cracks, and it didn't work."
"They're probably stuck with them now, which we're not at all upset about. That's fine by us."
Asked if it was too late to swap Luxon with a diffrent leader, Bishop chose not to answer, instead saying National would be focused on getting legislation through Parliament before the election.
'I would like his job'
While discussing the possibility of Bishop losing his seat, McAnulty was lightheartedly asked by Breakfast host Tova O'Brien: "You wouldn't want to have a parliament or a weekly media rap without Chris Bishop?"
"Just because I prefer him over his mates doesn't mean I really want him to keep his job," McAnulty replied.
Bishop interjected: "He's definitely out to get me. There's no doubt about that."
"Well, I would like his job," McAnulty said, sparking laughter from Bishop. "I would like to be the housing minister, and I'd like to be the infrastructure minister. And now, if he scrapes in at the bottom of the list, then that's fine, I suppose."
Bishop shot back: "I don't want your job. I'm happy with my one.
"There's no need to do a swappy. I'm good with my one right now."
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