Shearer has double Cunliffe's support - poll

David Shearer has twice as much public support than David Cunliffe in the Labour leadership race, a new poll shows.

The poll, provided to NBR by Horizon Research, showed that Mr Shearer's leadership bid was supported by 34.5% of adult New Zealanders, while Mr Cunliffe attracted only 16.9% support.

Mr Shearer was also seen to better represent the sort of things respondents believed in and to have an edge in several leadership qualities.

He was seen by 42.4% to best represent the sort of things people believed in, while Mr Cunliffe attracted only 28.3%.

Although the two men are very even in terms of being seen as strong leaders, with Mr Shearer on 27.6% and Mr Cunliffe on 26%, the former is viewed as almost twice as inspiring, with 21.9% support compared to 11.4%.

Mr Cunliffe does have the edge in who is more knowledgeable, at 37.1% compared with 32.8%. However, Mr Shearer is seen as more trustworthy, 27% compared to 14.6%, honest, 22% to 10.5%, and moral, 23.6% to 11.4%, by those polled.

He also appealed more to business managers and executives, 42.6% compared with 19.3%, business owners and self employed, 45% compared to 14.3%, and professionals and senior government officials, 48.7% compared to 10.8%.

Mr Cunliffe has slim leads over Mr Shearer among teachers/nurses/police and other trained service workers, at 25.4% compared to 23.5%, and labourers/agricultural or domestic workers, 23.2% compared to 15.6%.

In terms of a deputy leader, the frontrunner has not even declared her interest in the position.

Jacinda Ardern had the most support with 12.2% of those polled backing her. Shane Jones was next on 8%, with Manaia Mahuta on 7.9%. Grant Robertson, who has declared his interest in the deputy's job should Mr Shearer be elected leader, was back on 4.4%.

For the poll, Horizon Research surveyed 1356 respondents nationwide between 10am on December 5 and 4.30am on December 8, 2011, on their Labour leadership preferences.

Those polled were presented with the names of 13 Labour MPs and asked for their preferences for leader and deputy leader.

The Labour Party caucus will elect a new leader and deputy leader on Tuesday.