The move by New Zealand's opposition National party to switch leaders within four months of September's election has been welcomed by Kiwi voters.
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However, Jacinda Ardern's governing Labour party remains on track for a second term according to the latest poll, conducted by public broadcaster 1News.
Labour is at 50 per cent, down nine points, while National has jumped to 38 per cent, up nine points.
Spooked by poor performances in polls after the country's COVID-19 lockdown, National replaced embattled leader Simon Bridges with Todd Muller five weeks ago.
On these numbers, Mr Muller has no pathway to power - but on this trajectory, National will force Ms Ardern into a tough battle for government.
Ms Ardern is well liked by voters, leading the preferred prime minister stakes 54 per cent to Mr Muller's 13 per cent.
Labour soared to never before seen heights after its well-supported response to the coronavirus pandemic, and lower popularity was expected in this poll.
On these figures Labour could still govern in its own right with 62 MPs in the 120-seat parliament.
The Greens, government partners, could add their predicted seven seats into the government mix after polling at six per cent.
However, Labour's other governing partner, New Zealand First, has continued its wretched polling run.
In New Zealand's mixed member proportional system, parties need to win an electorate seat or reach five per cent of the party vote to enter to parliament.
NZ First, the party of Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has slumped to two per cent.
Speaking before the poll announcement, Mr Peters used a favourite phrase of US President Donald Trump to describe its worth.
"If you believe those polls you are more stupid than they are. We're here after 27 years of having had these adverse polls against us in every period coming up to every election," he said.
"And we've survived like no other modern party ... the polls are inaccurate. They're fake news and I've demonstrated over and over and over again."
Libertarians ACT are polling at three per cent but would re-enter parliament with a bolstered crew of four if leader David Seymour wins his electorate of Epsom, as predicted.
1NEWS-COLMAR BRUNTON POLL
June 2020
Labour: 50 per cent (62 seats), National 38 per cent (47 seats), Greens 6 per cent (7 seats), NZ First 2 per cent (0 seats), ACT 3 per cent (4 seats).
May 2020
Labour: 59 per cent (79 seats), National 29 per cent (38 seats), Greens 4.7 per cent (0 seats), NZ First 3 per cent (0 seats), ACT 2 per cent (3 seats).
Australian Associated Press
