WELLINGTON, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The latest poll showed on Tuesday the support rate of New Zealand's current coalition government dropped 2 points to 22 percent, a record low for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon as the government leader, amid growing economic concerns and high unemployment rates.
The 1News Verian Poll of 1,000 eligible voters conducted from Feb. 3 to Feb. 7 also shows the opposition, or the left bloc of the Labor and the Green parties, would have enough seats to form a government.
The main opposition Labor Party's leader Chris Hipkins, also the former prime minister, rose 2 points to 17 percent in support rate, showed the poll which was the third in a row.
Support for Luxon's National party in the ruling coalition was down 3 percent to 34 percent, compared to the previous result in December, and the other two members of the coalition -- the ACT and the New Zealand First -- were up by 1 point to 9 percent and down by 1 point to 5 percent, respectively, it said, adding the opposition Labor's support rate was up 4 percent to 33 percent.
Responding to the poll, Luxon said he was not concerned by the results, adding the only poll that matters is in 2026 when the general election, which is held every three years, will be held.
Meanwhile, the Curia Poll, conducted by the Taxpayers' Union on Feb. 2-4, also showed the Labor narrowly surpassed the National in support rate, with Luxon's favorability dropping by 2 points. ■