WELLINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's opposition Labor Party and its center-left bloc hold "the finest possible margin" over the governing bloc, according to a poll released Friday.
The latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll put the Labor Party up 0.3 points at 34.4 percent, while the ruling National Party dropped 2.9 points to 28.4 percent.
The Green Party edged up to 10.5 percent and Te Pati Maori (the Maori Party) to 3.2 percent, giving the center-left bloc 61 projected seats of the parliament's 120 seats, just enough to form a government, the poll showed.
On the center-right, the ACT Party increased to 7.5 percent while New Zealand First fell to 9.7 percent, leaving the coalition short with 59 projected seats, according to the poll.
On managing specific policies, the National Party remained ahead on the economy and spending, and the Labor led on health, poverty, inflation, education, housing and other social issues, including being considered as more trusted "not to raise taxes," the poll noted.
The Taxpayers' Union spokesman James Ross said the poll underscored how tight the race remains ahead of the next general election to be held on Nov. 7, 2026. ■
