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- Last Update: 16 Jan 2008
Referendums
A referendum is a question about something that is put to all electors. Referendums can be called as the result of a successful Citizens Initiated Referendum (CIR) petition or legislation passed by parliament to set one up.
Some referendums, including CIR, are indicative which means there is no requirement for anything to happen based on the result. Some referendums are binding which means that something must happen based on the result.
What is a Citizens Initiated Referendum (CIR)?
Electors can force a non-binding referendum be held on a particular question if they collect signatures of at least 10% of all enrolled electors on a petition. CIR questions may only have two possible answers, such as "yes" and "no". The promoters of the CIR must first get their proposed referendum question and petition form approved, and then collect the required signatures within 12 months. There is a $50,000 spending limit on promoting a petition, as well as a $50,000 spending limit on campaigning for any particular result if a referendum is called. A new electoral roll will be produced prior to the referendum and voting will be either in person as for a parliamentary election, or by postal ballot.
For more details see the Ministry of Justice publication, Citizens Initiated Referenda, the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993, and the Referenda (Postal Voting) Act 2000.
What is a Government initiated referendum?
The government can call a referendum if it passes legislation to do so. The referendum questions may have more than two possible answers. The most recent example was the Compulsory Retirement Savings Scheme Referendum Act 1997, and MMP was adopted after a binding referendum vote in 1993. A binding referendum is one way to change entrenched legislation, like the use of MMP as our electoral system, with a majority of 75% of MPs voting for change being the other. Citizens Initiated Referendums, 1995-2004
Date of referendum * held on day of general election | Turnout (total votes cast as % of enrolled electors) | Question | Result (% of valid votes) |
|---|---|---|---|
2 Dec 1995 | 27.0 | 'Should the number of professional firefighters employed full time in the New Zealand Fire Service be reduced below the number employed on 1 January 1995?' | Yes 12.2 No 87.8 |
27 Nov 1999* | 84.8 | 'Should the size of the House of Representatives be reduced from 120 members to 99 members?' | Yes 81.5 No 18.5 |
27 Nov 1999* | 84.8 | 'Should there be a reform of our justice system placing greater emphasis on the needs of victims, providing restitution and compensation for them and imposing minimum sentences and hard labour for all serious violent offences?' | Yes 91.8 No 8.2 |
Other (non-liquor licensing) Referendums, 1949-2004
Date of referendum * held on day of general election # held by postal ballot | Turnout (total votes cast as % of enrolled electors) | Topic and authorising Act | Result (% of valid votes) |
9 Mar 1949 | 54.3 | Off-course betting (Gaming Poll Act 1948) Proposal that provision be made for off-course betting on horse-races, through the Totalizator, by means to be provided by the New Zealand Racing Conference and the New Zealand Trotting Conference. I vote for the proposal. I vote against the proposal. | In favour 68.0 Against 32.0 |
3 Aug 1949 | 63.5 | Compulsory military training (Military Training Poll Act 1949) I vote for compulsory military training. I vote against compulsory military training. | In favour 77.9 Against 22.1 |
23 Sep 1967 | 69.7 | Term of Parliament (Electoral Poll Act 1967) I vote for a maximum of three years as at present. I vote for a maximum of four years. | 3 years 68.1 4 years 31.9 |
27 Oct 1990* | 85.2 | Term of Parliament (Term Poll Act 1990) I vote for 3 years as the term of Parliament as at present. I vote for 4 years as the term of Parliament. | 3 years 69.3 4 years 30.7 |
19 Sep 1992 | 55.2 | Voting system (Electoral Referendum Act 1991) Part A I vote to retain the present First-Past-The-Post system. I vote for a change to the voting system. Part B I vote for the Supplementary Member system (SM) I vote for the Single Transferable Vote system (STV) I vote for the Mixed Member Proportional system (MMP) I vote for the Preferential Voting system (PV) | Part A Retain 15.3 Change 84.7 Part B SM 5.6 STV 17.4 MMP 70.5 PV 6.6 |
6 Nov 1993* | 85.2 | Voting system (Electoral Referendum Act 1993) I vote for the present First-Past-The-Post system as provided in the Electoral Act 1956. I vote for the proposed Mixed Member Proportional system as provided in the Electoral Act 1993 | FPP 46.1 MMP 53.9 |
5-26 Sep 1997# | 80.3 | Compulsory Retirement Savings Scheme (Compulsory Retirement Savings Scheme Referendum Act 1997) Do you support the proposed Compulsory Retirement Savings Scheme? | Yes 8.2 No 91.8 |