It's your decision, but we recommend looking at all the options. People with similar views who want to be in government group together to form political parties.

Most people support parties with policies which reflect their views. They vote for the party which most closely reflects their ideas and values.

In 2002, 14 registered parties contested the party vote.

Seven parties - ACT New Zealand, Green Party, Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition, Labour Party, National Party, New Zealand First Party, and United Future NZ - won seats.  Since the election, Maori Party formed and won a seat in a by-election, so there were eight parties in parliament in 2005.

Let's have a party!

A party can become the government on its own if it wins more than half the 120 seats in Parliament. Two or more parties can agree to work together to form a coalition. After the 2002 election, Labour and Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition formed a coalition government, with the Greens and United Future NZ offering support on confidence and supply.

• You can register as a political party if you have 500 current financial members
• Parties usually publish policies, which tell people their views on different issues

Contact a political party
and find out their views on
different issues.

Look them up in the phone book
or visit their websites.