ONE News Colmar Brunton Poll: Oct 2007 

National appears to have escaped unscathed from a series of very public gaffes over the last month.

The latest ONE News Colmar Brunton poll shows the opposition party still on track to take power at the next election.

National is still flying high on 49 points with Labour well back on 37. The Greens are in third place on six, the Maori Party on three and New Zealand First on two.

Working a room has never been a problem for National leader John Key, but it is an entirely different game releasing detailed policy.

Under new media scrutiny this month, National revealed plans for partial sales of state assets and lifting the cap on doctors fees.

"In the end it's called a market and if they charge a lot more then probably some will just go down the road," Key said.

According to Prime Minister Helen Clark, it is called a secret agenda.

"I think it's grossly duplicitous," she said.

But voters do not appear to agree.

The trend showing National is maintaining a clear and consistent lead.

While Clark was meeting some of the world's big players abroad, back home she has got stiff competition for the job.

When it comes to who should lead the country, it is a dead heat with both leaders on 33%. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is the choice for just 3%.

Looking back at previous polls shows both leaders have been clinging on to their support levels.

The government unveiled another bumper surplus last week and many New Zealanders share the optimism about a strong economy.

Thirty seven of those polled think the economy will get better over the next year, 29% feel things will not change and 35% believe things will get worse.

The trend is for people to be more optimistic about economy, with the pessimists dropping away.

And on these poll numbers that strong economy would be gifted over the John Key.

The One News Colmar Brunton poll sampled 1,000 eligible voters and has a margin of error of 3.1%.