Jacinda Ardern achieves record-breaking feat amid coronavirus
Jacinda Ardern’s immense popularity shows no signs of letting up, with New Zealand’s prime minister becoming the most popular in a century, according to the Newshub-Reid Research poll.
In the first poll since the coronavirus outbreak began in New Zealand, the popularity of her Labour government soared to 56.5 per cent, up 14 points.
If replicated on election day, that figure would be the highest in Labour's history and enough to govern without current coalition partners NZ First and the Greens.
Ms Ardern herself shot up 20.8 points as preferred PM, the highest score for any leader in the poll’s history.
The surge comes just one month after Australian PM Scott Morrison recorded the highest approval ratings for a national leader in more than a decade thanks to his coronavirus response.
The 39-year-old has been praised for her response to the outbreak, with her government deciding to implement a stringent lockdown in pursuance of virus eradication.
Nearly 92 per cent of respondents agreed with the prime minister on the move which put the nation under strict “level four” restrictions for over a month, closing most businesses and severely restricting the movements of residents.
The nation has managed to limit the spread to just 1,499 cases and 21 deaths, with restrictions now easing across the country.
Ms Ardern’s popularity has rarely wavered during her time in office, becoming PM just seven weeks after replacing Andrew Little as Labour leader in 2017.
NZ prime minister turned away from restaurant under coronavirus rules
'Congratulations on the qualification': NZ PM clashes with TV host on air
Producing a "stardust" effect in the weeks prior to her appointment as national leader, she achieved a near 10-point bump in the polls at the time.
Ms Ardern’s stratospheric rise to become the country’s youngest prime minister and third woman to hold the office resulted in New Zealanders coining the phrase "Jacinda-mania."
In the years since, she was widely praised for her handling of the Christchurch terror attack in March 2019.
Opposition leader branded ‘dead man walking’
The ratings appear to have proven disastrous for opposition National leader Simon Bridges, whose party slumped to 31 per cent, down 13 from their last poll.
Just four months from the 2020 general election, Newshub political editor Tova O'Brien described Mr Bridges' leadership as over, declaring him "politically a dead man walking".
Other political commentators believe another poll due out this Thursday could spell the end of his tenure.
Yet Mr Bridges hit back on Tuesday, suggesting he will continue in the roll no matter what.
He said intense coverage of the coronavirus coverage globally had led to poll bumps for many leaders, but things would change once the focus shifted to the economy.
"National has the team, the track record and the plan under me to get New Zealand working again,” he told Mike Hosting on Newstalk ZB.
with Reuters and AAP
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
