22 Aug 2011

National signals deals with support parties

9:18 am on 22 August 2011

Prime Minister John Key has signalled that the National Party will do deals with support parties even if it wins enough votes at the general election to govern alone.

National recorded more than 50% support in both the One News-Colmar Brunton and 3 News-Reid Research opinion polls released on Sunday.

Mr Key says that, irrespective of National's party vote, he will still be talking to ACT, United Future and the Maori Party about support arrangements.

In the One News poll, National recorded 56% support and Labour 30%, while in the 3 News survey National was on 54% and Labour 28.8%.

None of the minor parties, apart from the Greens, got above 5% in either poll.

Both polls surveyed about 1000 people and have margins of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.