New Zealand National Party leader Don Brash has for the first time overtaken Helen Clark as the nation's preferred prime minister in the latest poll, according to the Sunday Star-Times Sunday.

Respondents to the Sunday Star-Times/BRC poll have identified the National leader as the person they believe should lead the country: 44 percent to ruling Labor Party's Prime Minister Clark's 41 percent.

The poll puts National's support at 48 percent, ahead of Labor on 37 percent, but still in need of a coalition partner to form a government at the next election.

Brash was quoted as saying that it was a long way to the next election and he was not paying too much attention to the polls.

"I am focused on getting around the country and talking about how to build a better New Zealand," he said.

Clark said the polls' sample of 500 was "absurdly small" and declined to comment further.

However, National Party historian and Auckland University politics professor Barry Gustafson said the poll showed a significant increase for Brash, setting the scene for a two-horse race at next year's election.

"There is a psychological boost to him and National in going ahead of her - it's not usual for the leader of the opposition to be ahead of the prime minister of the day," he said.

Victoria University politics professor Nigel Roberts said Brash' s recent "one law for all" speech had helped the party and was helping its leader. While it was dangerous to read too much into the small margin, it did signal Brash and Clark would go head-to-head into the election which will be held next year.

Source: Xinhua