National’s Future not to be read in the Tea Leaves

When it comes to reading the National Party’s future this election the answer isn’t to be found in the tea leaves but rather in a count up of coffee beans.

Despite the controversy over the now infamous “teapot tape”, National was the only party to gain any ground in week three of Muffin Break’s Bean Poll, up 1% on week two to a polling high of 43%.

That 1% has come at the expense of the Labour Party, which has dropped back to sit on 28%, while the Green Party and ACT Party remain unchanged on 14% and 6% respectively. Other parties make up the remaining 9%.

With National and ACT’s combined votes falling just shy of 50%, if New Zealand’s largest pre-election poll is as accurate as it has been in the past, the beans are showing that the minor parties could once again hold the balance of power.

More than 47,000 Kiwis have so far voted in the poll, which has accurately predicted the winning party prior to the 2002, 2005 and 2008 general elections.

With just days left to vote, those who haven’t yet had their say with a coffee bean can cast their vote at one of Muffin Break’s 36 stores throughout New Zealand.

As easy as voting in the election itself, Muffin Break customers simply place a coffee bean into the holder corresponding to the party they plan to vote for on election day. Those unable to make it into a store can vote online.

More than 120,000 people cast their vote with a coffee bean in the four weeks leading up to the 2008 general election.

Muffin Break New Zealand General Manager Garry Croft is encouraging New Zealanders to have their say in the Bean Poll while they still can this week, otherwise they’ll have to wait another three years.

“While we’ve had so much fun running the Bean Poll again this year, we do have a more serious message. Regardless of whether you’ve voted in the Bean Poll or not, we hope that every New Zealander eligible to vote in Saturday’s general election takes just a few minutes out of their day and takes part in the democratic process,” he says.

For more information on the Muffin Break Bean Poll visit http://www.muffinbreak.co.nz or the Facebook page here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Muffin-Break-NZ/195624637139824

Notes to editors:

About the Muffin Break Bean Poll:

The Muffin Break Bean Poll has been held in New Zealand in 2002, 2005 and 2008 and each time has successfully predicted the winning party. Its biggest test to date was in 2005 when Labour won with a narrow victory over the National Party.

_About Muffin Break:_

Encompassing over 200 sweet and savoury muffin recipes, Muffin Break is renowned for their freshly baked goods prepared daily onsite, providing an irresistible range of baked products as well as Muffin Break’s distinctive blend of espresso coffee.

Muffin Break first launched in 1989 and has since grown to approximately 250 across New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Foodco Group Pty Ltd owns the well-known Muffin Break, Jamaica Blue™, and Dreamy Donuts™ brands.

© Scoop Media