Hipkins anticipates 'close' election as National takes another poll hit

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is anticipating a "very, very close" election, following the release of a new poll showing another hit to National's numbers. According to the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll, if an election were held today, the coalition would narrowly return to Government with 61 seats. National sat at 28.7% with 36 seats, a fall of 2.1 points. It is the party's lowest rating in the poll since Luxon became leader. Labour was the biggest party represented on 34% – 43 seats. That's despite a fall of 1.6 points. NZ First sat at 11.5% (15 seats), its third consecutive rise in the Reid poll, the Greens at 10.3% (13 seats), and ACT at 7.8% (10 seats). Opportunity crept closer to the 5% threshold, registering 4.7%. Te Pāti Māori sat at 2.3%, with the poll anticipating it would pick up three electorate seats.