A new Newshub-Reid Research poll shows support for Labour has dropped 3.6 points to 32.3 per cent while support for National is up 1.3 points to 36.6 per cent.

On these numbers, National and ACT comfortably have the numbers to form the next government.

The previous Newshub poll in May came before the Budget and showed left-leaning parties Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori barely able to form a government.

It has been a tough time since then for Labour, with Michael Wood and Kiri Allan removed as ministers, and Education Minister Jan Tinetti apologising after misleading Parliament.

Hipkins - who has taken trips to China and the EU - has also ruled out a wealth or capital gains tax, and there was also the shooting at an Auckland construction site.

The latest figures indicate National and ACT comfortably have the numbers to form the next government.

• Labour: 32.3 percent, down 3.6 points, 42 seats
• National: 36.6 percent, up 1.3 points, 47 seats
• ACT: 12.1 percent, up 1.3 points, 16 seats
• Greens: 9.6 percent, up 1.5 points, 12 seats
• Te Pāti Māori: 2.7 percent, down 0.8 point, 3 seats
• NZ First: 4.1 percent, up 1.1 points

Preferred prime minister:

• Chris Hipkins: 24 per cent
• Christopher Luxon: 15.9 per cent
• David Seymour: 10.9 per cent
• Winston Peters: 4.3 per cent
• Jacinda Ardern: 3.7 per cent

The poll surveyed 1000 eligible voters between July 26 - July 31, 2023, and is weighted for demographics, with a margin of error of 3.1 per cent.

-RNZ.