"Our Governments have great powers and great responsibilities. The exercise of those powers and fulfillment of those responsibilities is legitimate only because it arises from the consent of the people." The primary way in which people give their consent is by voting in general elections.
Royal Commission on the Electoral System: "Towards a better Democracy"
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New Zealand's System of Government
Read moreNew Zealand is a democratic country in which the Members of Parliament (MPs) are chosen in free and fair elections.
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MMP Voting System
In New Zealand, we vote using the MMP voting system - Mixed Member Proportional. Voters have two votes: the first for their preferred party and the second for an electorate MP.
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Māori Representation
Read moreFour Māori seats were established by the 1867 New Zealand Parliament to give Māori a direct say in Parliament.
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General Elections
Read moreNew Zealand general elections generally occur every three years.
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By-elections
Read moreA by-election is held to fill a vacancy in an electorate seat. A vacancy might arise, for example, through a member resigning their seat or dying in office.
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Referenda
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Local Elections
Read moreLocal elections are held once every three years. The elections are for city and district councils, regional councils and District Health Boards.
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Electoral Laws and Legislation
Read moreThis page provides lists and links to current laws and regulations for parliamentary and local authority elections, referendums and other electoral matters (such as school Board of Trustee elections).
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Electorates
Read moreAn electorate is a voting district for parliamentary elections in New Zealand. There are two types of electorates: General and Māori and how many we need is decided every five years after each Census.
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History of the Vote
How did New Zealand get the voting system it has today?
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