Jacinda Ardern’s poll rating at lowest since becoming New Zealand’s PM

The Labour leader's approval has dropped to 35% as the country wrestles with the Omicron Covid variant and rising inflation

Support for Jacinda Ardern has dropped to its lowest level since she became New Zealand's prime minister in 2017, as the country reckons with higher living costs and a Covid-19 outbreak.

While Ardern remains New Zealand's preferred prime minister by a significant margin, her support had dropped four points in the latest 1 News Kantor poll, to 35%. The result is her lowest since just before the 2017 election, when Ardern began her tenure. Her counterparts on the right are still tailing by a significant margin, but new National leader Christopher Luxon had made substantial gains, up 13 points to 17%.