John Key’s proposed flag change is plumbing spectacular new depths with a new poll absolutely crushing any hope of a flag change next year.

The issue is now proving problematic for the Prime Minister and his image. Whilst his party continues to poll around its 2014 election result, his personal popularity is now averaging out below 40%, whilst a new TV3/Reid Research poll released on TV3’s The Nation found upwards of 60% of New Zealanders believe the Prime Minister is “out of touch” – up 20 points from 2010.

The postal survey, conducted as part of an international social survey found support for a flag change is even lower than the already low numbers shown to the Prime Minister (as part of a survey done by TV3) last week, which he strongly disputed.

The poll found just 12% of New Zealanders supported a flag change outright, whilst a further 27% said it would depend on the alternative design. The Prime Minister is campaigning with the 12% of New Zealanders who want change, regardless of the alternative design, but says his preference lies with the Lockwood fern.

Surprisingly, voter support for flag change is higher among right-wing voters than left-wing voters and younger voters over older voters. Just 9% of New Zealanders aged 25 or under expressed desire for a new flag.

Wellington, of all the centres, supported a flag change the strongest with 41% backing a new flag – still a minority.

In terms of ethnicities, less than 1% of Pacific Islanders supported a change with Asian Kiwis behind change the strongest (12%). Meanwhile, only 8% of women back a flag change on principal.

The survey reached 838 people via postal vote.