The latest political poll has delivered mixed fortunes to the Opposition parties - Labour leader Andrew Little slipped back into single figures as preferred Prime Minister, but NZ First got its best result since at least 2009.
In the One News Colmar Brunton poll, Mr Little was down two points since September to 8% - the same as in July and on equal pegging with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Prime Minister John Key was steady on 40%.
The National Party stayed steady on 47%, while Labour slipped down one to 31%. New Zealand First was up two points to 9% - its best result in Colmar Brunton polls since at least 2009.
That is within cooee of the Green Party on 12%.
Mr Peters has said his aim is to overtake the Green Party to become the third largest party in Parliament.
The Maori Party was the only other party to register at 1% support.
On those results, New Zealand First would be the kingmaker - National and its current support partners would only get 60 seats in a 122-seat Parliament.
Economic confidence was also up nine points to 42%
The poll of 1002 voters was taken between October 10-14 in the aftermath of the Government signing the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, Mr Key's visits to New York and Iraq, and during publicity over the plight of New Zealanders in Australia detention centres.
The polling period ended on the same day as the announcement of a Government surplus.
The poll's margin of error was plus or minus 3.1%.
