NBR Online paid subscribers don't believe the Prime Minister when he says he initially simply did not recall phoning Ian Fletcher to alert him to the GCSB director role being open.
A clear majority 59% to 41% don't buy the brain fade story.
During a Friday interview with Radio Live, the Prime Minister called journalists reporting on the story "knuckleheads."
The problem was that the question about contacting Mr Fletcher was sprung him he had only ''15 seconds, with no warning, on a process that happened 18 months ago.''
In future he would not answer questions off the cuff. They would have to be put in writing so they could be researched.
National candidate turned pundit Stephen Franks says the Prime Minister should have more confidence to go on the front foot over the GCSB appointment.
As leader of the Executive, Mr Key has a vital interest in who reports to him in every portfolio.
The shoulder-tapping phone call did not prejudice the independent candidate selection process.
The PM had nothing to apologise for or explain.
Mr Key and State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie have both strongly backed Mr Fletcher's credentials as a candidate, and the integrity of the process by which he was selected - although on Thursday the Commissioner did concede he was "surprised" the Prime Minister had phoned Mr Fletcher directly.
620 readers took part in the poll via NBR Online over April 4 and April 5.
Voting was open to NBR Online Paid subscribers only to prevent vote duplication.
NBR staff
Sat, 06 Apr 2013
Sat, 06 Apr 2013
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POLL RESULT: Readers' verdict on whether John Key genuinely forgot his call to Ian Fletcher
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