During the 1984 election Labour promised to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the electoral system.For many years there had been advocates for a more proportionate electoral system that would allow smaller parties and interest groups to be better
During the 1984 election Labour promised to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the electoral system.
For many years there had been advocates for a more proportionate electoral system that would allow smaller parties and interest groups to be better represented in Parliament.
In 1986 the Royal Commission reported and it recommended the adoption of the German-style Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system.
Under the proposal Parliament would increase to 120 MPs with 60 drawn from 60 constituency electorates and the rest from party lists, in proportion to the party vote.
Few Labour and National politicians supported the idea, but in the run up to the 1990 election National criticised Labour for not responding to the report and both parties ended up promising to hold a referendum on electoral reform.
Following National's landslide victory in 1990 public resentment against politicians was at an all time high, after the previous Labour government made sweeping changes to the economy and tax system.
Many Labour supporters were disillusioned over the economic reforms and National had angered many over breaking a number of election promises, especially those relating to superannuation.
In 1992 National held a referendum on whether the electoral system should be held.
Only 55 percent of voters took part, but they voted 85 percent in favour of change, with most supporting MMP.
The second referendum was a straight run off between FPP and MMP held at the same time as the 1993 election.
The turn out was higher at 85 percent with MMP winning by 54 percent to 46 percent, so the 1996 election was to become the first held under the new system, with 120 seats instead of 99.
Between the referendum and the 1996 election, political parties reorganised themselves and new parties were created.
After the 1996 election, ACT and United entered Parliament, while New Zealand First and the Alliance made huge strides, rising from two seats to 17 and 13 respectively.
It took two months of coalition talks before National and New Zealand First were able to form a coalition Government.
The collapse of that coalition sparked a series defections that left many sceptical about MMP.
In 1999 Labour formed a coalition with the Alliance that collapsed when the Alliance imploded over the war in Afghanistan.
In subsequent elections, Labour leader Helen Clark shied away from formal coalitions and operated minority governments with the assistance of a number of political parties including (now-called) United Future and New Zealand First.
In 2008, National leader John Key formed a minority Government with the support of ACT and the Maori Party.
The Green Party is only party in Parliament that has never been part of a Government since MMP was brought in.
