Prime Minister John Key doesn't think voters will abandon proportional representation when they get the chance to decide in a referendum that will be held at the same time as the next general election."But in the end the purpose of having the referen
Prime Minister John Key doesn't think voters will abandon proportional representation when they get the chance to decide in a referendum that will be held at the same time as the next general election.
"But in the end the purpose of having the referendum is for New Zealanders to decide through the ballot box," he said after the Government yesterday released details of the questions that would be asked.
"My view is they are unlikely to abandon a proportional system."
Labour leader Phil Goff said the old first past the post system didn't allow small parties fair representation in Parliament.
"I think MMP is fairest, but it does have the problem that the tail wags the dog," he said.
"It is the responsibility of smaller parties not to overplay their hands, and we have seen successive examples of small parties who try to determine policy at the expense of the majority party."
Campaign for MMP spokeswoman Sandra Grey said the proposed questions were fair and the Greens, who depend on proportional representation to hold their seats, welcomed debate on the different systems.
Justice Minister Simon Power has prepared a bill to set up the referendum.
The proposed questions are:
Part A
Should the current MMP voting system be retained?
* I vote to retain the MMP voting system.
* I vote to change to another voting system.
Part B
Regardless of how you voted under part A, if there was a change to another voting system, which voting system would you choose?
* I would choose the First Past the Post system.
* I would choose the Preferential Voting system.
* I would choose the Single Transferable Vote system.
* I would choose the Supplementary Member system.
If a majority of voters don't want to retain MMP, a second, binding referendum will be held with the 2014 general election asking voters to choose between MMP and the preferred option chosen in the first referendum.
If the majority vote for change, the 2017 general election will be held under the chosen system.
Mr Power said the bill would be sent to a special select committee with all parties represented on it to hear submissions.
In the run up to the referendum the Electoral Commission will run an education campaign.
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