New Zealand PM Luxon open to referendum on electoral system
Christopher Luxon says a vote on the Mixed Member Proportional system is "something we should consider" and could be held as early as 2027.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he is open to holding a referendum on the country's electoral system, which could take place as early as 2027 if he returns to power after a general election scheduled for Nov 7.
Speaking in an interview with radio station Newstalk ZB, Luxon said a referendum on the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system was "something we should consider".
"I think I would because I actually think that it is quite right to check in constitutionally and say, is this the system, New Zealand, you still want?" he said.
German-style system since 1996
New Zealand adopted the German-style MMP system in 1996 after an inquiry found that smaller parties were being shut out of parliament under the previous first-past-the-post system adopted from Britain.
Under MMP, constituents cast two votes: one for a local candidate and one for a party.
Winning local candidates take their seats automatically, while 48 further seats are filled from party lists, allocated to match each party's share of the nationwide vote.
Praise and criticism
The system has been praised for allowing smaller parties a say in government, but criticised for its complexity and for often requiring coalition governments.
It also has several unusual features, including seven seats reserved exclusively for Indigenous Maori voters.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.