Wellington, Oct 18 NZPA - National has double the support of Labour nearly a year after it won the election.

TV3's poll of 1000 voters tonight put the National Government's support at an exceptionally high 59.9 percent compared to Labour's 27.2 percent.

The Green Party were on 6.9 percent, the Maori Party 2.4 percent and ACT 1.7 percent.

In the preferred Prime Minister stakes Labour leader Phil Goff languished behind John Key. Mr Key had 55.8 percent support and Mr Goff only 4.7 percent -- behind former PM Helen Clark on 8.2 percent.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, whose party is not even in Parliament, got 3 percent support. His party got 1 percent.

The poll questioned how down to earth people thought the leaders were. Mr Key scored 80 percent and Mr Goff 37 percent. It also asked if people thought the leaders had personality, Mr Key scored 72 percent and Mr Goff 26 percent.