ℙ𝕆𝕃𝕃: 𝟝𝟜% 𝕠𝕗 𝕧𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 ℍ𝕚𝕡𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕪 𝕒𝕤 𝕃𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣

𝔽𝕚𝕗𝕥𝕪-𝕗𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕡𝕖𝕣 𝕔𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕧𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕤 ℍ𝕚𝕡𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕒𝕤 𝕃𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣, 𝕒𝕔𝕔𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝟙ℕ𝕖𝕨𝕤 𝕍𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕟 𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕝.

75% of Labour Party voters support Chris Hipkins as leader. file: 𝕵𝖔𝖍𝖓𝖓𝖞 ᴴᴰ

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he future of the former PM, who served in the top job for nine months, has been the subject of speculation as the opposition party looks to rebuild following its defeat at last year's election.

In the poll, around half the respondents were asked: "Do you think Chris Hipkins should now remain as the leader of the Labour Party or step down?"

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Just over one in four - 26% - thought the former senior minister should step down while 20% of respondents said they didn't know or preferred not to say.

When asked by 1News, Hipkins said he wasn't worried about being rolled as the leader.

"I certainly have the support of my team. Our goal over the next two years is to rebuild our support. If you were to take a look at the polls three years ago, you wouldn't have picked a National-led government following the last election, would you?"

Labour Party supporters were overwhelmingly more likely to suggest Hipkins should remain the party's leader with 75% in support.

Those groups of eligible voters who are more likely than average (26%) to think he should step down include ACT Party supporters (43%) and National Party supporters (35%).

Labour MPs asked about a possible leadership change were adamant that Hipkins was in it for the long haul. Political opponents were also supportive - albeit in a different way.

ACT leader David Seymour laughed when asked about Hipkins, while New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he was doing a "fantastic job".

"He's doing a fantastic job as opposition leader … every time he opens his mouth they go down in the polls," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

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1News Verian polls over the past year show Labour's party vote share has remained stable with Hipkins as opposition leader, slightly higher than their election night performance.

Senior National minister Simeon Brown also had thoughts on the Labour leader.

"Other than the odd tweet, he's missing in action," he said.

Despite speculation about potential leadership changes, Labour MP Kieran McAnulty, often tipped as a future leader, again firmly denied any ambitions for the top job

When asked if he would consider the role if offered, McAnulty repeatedly said "no".

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