Nearly half of Labour voters oppose a coalition with Internet Mana — poll

A 3News-Reid Research poll finds 47% of Labour voters oppose the party working with Internet Mana to form a government.

29% were in favour; 12% didn't know.

The result could weigh on Labour leader David Cunlliffe's mind as he decides whether to cut a deal in Te Tai Tokerau — the seat Mana leader Hone Harawira must hold to bring other Internet Mana MPs into Parliament on his coat tails.

The 3-Reid poll also found Internet Mana support on 2.3% (a Herald Digipoll also released over the weekend found it at 2.2%), enough to bring Internet Party leader Laila Harre and Mana's Annette Sykes in on Mr Harawira's coat-tails if he wins his electorate.

Political commentator Bryce Edwards has seen Mr Cunliffe "absolutely open" to an MMP deal Te Tai Tokerau, where Mr Harawira trailed Labour's Kelvin Davis in a TV One poll.

Officially at least, Mr Cunliffe has shunned the possibility of a deal. But earlier Dr Edwards told NBR that despite Mr Davis being an out-spoken Internet Mana critic (he has called the party a scam),  “Labour will be seriously considering their options .... If it will ultimately help to form a Labour-led government, the party is very likely to make  a strategic decision to kneecap Kelvin Davis, or pull back on campaigning in Te Tai Tokerau … it will be extraordinary if Labour fights hard.”

Dr Edwards noted the close ties between Mr Cunliffe's chief-of-staff Matt McCarten and Internet Party leader Laila Harre, who worked together for years in the Alliance.

An insider told NBR that with Mr Cunliffe wary over voter backlash to too many "dirty deals" any deal was likely to be cut behind the scenes.

Elsewhere, the 3News-Reid Research poll found stable party support, (a contrast to the Herald Digipoll, which found Labour knocked back):

PARTY VOTE:
National: 49.4 percent (down 0.3 percent)
Labour: 26.7 percent (down 0.6 percent)
Green: 12.4 percent (down 0.3 percent)
NZ First: 4.3 percent  (up 0.7 percent)
Conservative: 2.7 percent (down 0.1 percent)
Internet Mana: 2.3 percent (up 0.5 percent)
Maori: 1.1 percent (down 0.4 percent)
United Future: 0.2 percent (up 0.2 percent)
ACT: 0.1 percent (down 0.3 percent)

SEATS IN HOUSE:
National: 65
ACT: 1
United Future: 1
Maori: 2
Total Right: 69
-
Labour: 35
Green: 16
Mana: 3
Total Left: 54
-
Total seats: 123
(Prediction: ACT 1 electorate seat, United Future 1 electorate seat, Maori Party 2 electorate seats, Internet Mana 1 electorate seat. No deal/seat for Conservatives.)

PREFERRED PM:
John Key: 43.8 percent (down 2.9 percent)
David Cunliffe: 9.5 percent (down 0.1 percent)