New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he is open to holding a referendum on whether the country should change its electoral system.
Speaking in an interview with Newstalk ZB on Thursday, Luxon said a public vote on the issue is “something we should consider” and could be held as early as 2027 if his government is re-elected in the general election scheduled for November 7.
“I think it is important to check in constitutionally and ask New Zealanders whether this is still the electoral system they want,” Luxon said.
He also reaffirmed his support for a separate referendum to extend New Zealand’s current three-year parliamentary term to four years.
New Zealand adopted the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system in 1996, replacing the British-style first-past-the-post system after an inquiry concluded that smaller political parties were being unfairly excluded from Parliament.
Under the MMP system, voters cast two votes—one for a local electorate candidate and another for a political party.
Candidates who win in 71 electorate seats automatically enter Parliament, while the remaining seats are allocated from party lists to reflect each party’s share of the nationwide vote.
The number of list seats varies depending on election results but is expected to be around 49 in the upcoming election.
The MMP system has been praised for giving smaller parties greater representation and encouraging broader political participation.
However, critics argue that it is more complex than the previous system and often results in coalition governments.
The electoral system also includes seven parliamentary seats reserved for Māori voters, a unique feature designed to ensure Indigenous representation.
New Zealanders last voted on the issue in a 2011 referendum, when 58 per cent supported retaining the MMP system.
