Elections and Party Politics
The first political party was founded in 1891, and its main rival was founded in 1909—from that point until a change of electoral system in 1996, New Zealand had a two-party system in place. Today, New Zealand has a genuinely multi-party system, with eight parties currently represented in Parliament. Neither of the two largest parties have been able to govern without support from other groups since 1996, meaning that coalition government is required.
The two largest, and oldest, parties are the Labour Party (centre-left progressive) and the National Party (centre-right conservative). Other parties currently represented in Parliament are ACT (free market), the Greens (left-wing, environmentalist), the New Zealand First Party (centrist, nationalist), United Future (family values), Māori Party (ethnic) and the Mana Party (socialist, indigenous rights)
| Party | Votes | % of Votes | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | Change | Electorate | List | Total | Change | |||
| National | 1,058,636 | 47.31 | +2.38 | 42 | 17 | 59 | +1 | |
| Labour | 614,937 | 27.48 | -6.50 | 22 | 12 | 34 | -9 | |
| Green | 247,372 | 11.06 | +4.33 | 0 | 14 | 14 | +5 | |
| NZ First | 147,544 | 6.59 | +2.53 | 0 | 8 | 8 | +8 | |
| Māori | 31,982 | 1.43 | -0.96 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -2 | |
| Mana | 24,168 | 1.08 | +1.08 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +1 | |
| ACT | 23,889 | 1.07 | -2.58 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -4 | |
| United Future | 13,443 | 0.60 | -0.27 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ±0 | |
| other parties | 75,493 | 3.37 | -3.17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | |
| total | 2,237,464 | 100.00 | 70 | 51 | 121 | -1 | ||
| party informal votes | 19,872 | |||||||
| disallowed special votes | 21,263 | |||||||
| disallowed ordinary votes | 390 | |||||||
| total votes cast | 2,278,989 | |||||||
| turnout | 74.21% | |||||||
| total electorate | 3,070,847 | |||||||
The loss of one MP is due to the Progressive Party not contesting the election.
The loss of one seat is due to the reduction of the overhang, with the Maori Party only getting one electorate seat surplus to its party vote this election.
Read more about this topic: Politics Of New Zealand
Famous quotes containing the words elections and, elections, party and/or politics:
“Elections and politics in this country correspond with battles and war in other times and countries. Whatever of departing evils remains is sure to show itself last in the excitement of political contests.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.”
—Gore Vidal (b. 1925)
“If the Soviet Union let another political party come into existence, they would still be a one-party state, because everybody would join the other party.”
—Ronald Reagan (b. 1911)
“The real grounds of difference upon important political questions no longer correspond with party lines.... Politics is no longer the topic of this country. Its important questions are settled... Great minds hereafter are to be employed on other matters.... Government no longer has its ancient importance.... The people’s progress, progress of every sort, no longer depends on government. But enough of politics. Henceforth I am out more than ever.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)