Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Luxon open to referendum on New Zealand's MMP electoral system
New Zealand uses a special voting system called MMP, which stands for mixed-member proportional.
It was introduced about 30 years ago so that smaller groups would not be left out.
Under this system, people vote twice: once for a person in their area and once for a team, called a party.
Each party gets seats based on how many votes it wins across the whole country.
Because no big party usually wins enough votes on its own, parties have to work together to run the country.
This has happened after almost every election since 1996, except in 2020.
The leader of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, said he might ask people to vote on whether to keep this system.
Some people think that idea is not fair and would only help the bigger parties take more power.
Similar voting systems are also used in other countries, such as Germany.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said this week he is open to a referendum on the country's electoral system.
Critics say such a move would be seen as a 'power grab' by the larger parties and has sparked vigorous debate.
Under MMP, voters cast two votes - one for a constituency candidate and one for a party - and the party vote decides how many seats each party gets in parliament.
Every government since MMP was introduced in 1996 has been a coalition, except Labour's outright win in 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Minor parties have often been decisive: New Zealand First and Te Pāti Māori have both acted as kingmakers, and the centrist Opportunity Party could be pivotal in the upcoming election.
- Who
- New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who said he is open to a referendum, and critics who call the move a 'power grab' by larger parties.
- What
- A debate over whether to hold a referendum on New Zealand's mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system, which has made coalition governments the norm.
- When
- This week, reported on August 7, ahead of New Zealand's upcoming election.
- Where
- New Zealand; the announcement was reported from Wellington.
- Why
- Luxon signalled openness to reviewing the electoral system, while critics argue a referendum would be seen as a 'power grab' by larger parties; the debate centres on whether MMP favours coalitions.
Critics of the referendum
PM Christopher Luxon / referendum supporters
Referendum on MMP
Critics of the referendum
Critics say moving toward a referendum on MMP would be seen as a 'power grab' by the larger parties and would weaken the system that gave smaller parties a voice.
PM Christopher Luxon / referendum supporters
Luxon said he is open to a referendum on the electoral system, inviting voters to decide its future.
Role of minor parties under MMP
Critics of the referendum
MMP was adopted on a commission's recommendation to address concerns that smaller parties were being left out of Parliament.
PM Christopher Luxon / referendum supporters
Under MMP, minor parties have repeatedly held decisive kingmaker power - in 2017 National won more seats than Labour, but Labour formed the government with New Zealand First and the Green Party.
- Electoral system
- Mixed-member proportional (MMP)
- Prime Minister
- Christopher Luxon
- MMP in use since
- 1996
- Standard parliament size
- 120 seats (extra seats can be added)
- Seats needed to govern
- Usually at least 61 of 120
- Party threshold
- 5% of party vote or one electorate seat
- Constituency seats
- 71 electorate seats, including 7 Māori electorates
- Expected list seats next election
- About 49