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General Elections

From the first elections in 1853, these resources cover the history and importance of general election campaigns in New Zealand. Explore also Women’s Suffrage, the Electoral Act, voting rights, MMP, and major parties along the way. SCIS no. 1830959

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Election night crowd, Wellington, 1931

Election night crowd, Wellington, 1931

Photographer: William Hall Raine Election night crowd, Wellington, 1931 Reference number: 1/2-066547-F Original negative Photographic Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library Find out more about this ...

Labour is making them the nation’s pride

Labour is making them the nation’s pride

Shows a head and shoulders portrait of a boy and girl. Image identical to that on flier at Eph-B-NZ-LABOUR-1938. Dated in Roth poster list at Eph-A-ROTH-Posters. Quantity: 1 colour art print(s)....

Join the Communist party

Join the Communist party

Shows male figure of a worker, pointing towards the right, "this way to progress". The Roth Collection also includes an original drawing for this design and a black and white version of it (at Eph...

Cartoon published in the run-up to the 1984 general election is a mock film poster for 'Class of 1984. Screening nightly until July 14. (R20) Coarse language and some scenes may offend. Should be e...

Join the swing to National

Join the swing to National

Shows a photograph of a smiling woman on a swing, against a plain yellow background. Lettering is in blue and white. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s) on poster. Physical Description: ...

Mayor keen for electronic voting

Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon wants to entice young Maori people vote via electronic methods, saying it's a clear way of getting rangatahi involved and interested in elections.

Voting in 2011 general election

Although the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted fell in the 2000s, it remained high compared to many other countries. Many of those who vote enjoy the ritual, knowing that it is one o...

Electoral systems

Electoral systems: the call for electoral reform.

This 1993 pro-MMP poster from the Electoral Reform Coalition features a cartoon by well-known cartoonist Murray Ball. The Electoral Reform Coalition, the main lobby group for the MMP (mixed-member ...

A pro-MMP poster.

Implications of MMP

Implications of MMP

This cartoon depicts what many people saw as one of the drawbacks of the mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) electoral system. In the 1996 election – the first held under MMP – the Natio...

Changing to MMP

Changing to MMP

The campaign to change the country’s voting system from first-past-the-post to MMP (mixed member proportional representation) was mounted by people who wanted a Parliament which was more responsive...

Women's suffrage 1893

Women's suffrage 1893

"On 19 September 1893 the governor, Lord Glasgow, signed a new Electoral Act into law. As a result of this landmark legislation, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world in ...

This election pamphlet features a message by the National Party candidate for Brooklyn (Wellington), Mrs Burns. This was for the 1949 New Zealand general election, which was won by the first Nation...

Early Newspaper New Zealand election results

Early Newspaper New Zealand election results

AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1903 Session I — H-26a GENERAL ELECTION, 1902 (INFORMAL VOTES CAST AT THE).

What is the MMP voting system?

New Zealand uses the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system to elect its Parliament.

MMP voting system

In New Zealand, we vote using the MMP voting system – Mixed Member Proportional.

How government works

The Government is formed after a democratic election held every 3 years.

How Parliament works

New Zealand's system of government is known as a constitutional monarchy. It is made up of democratically elected representatives.

2017 in politics.

The big issues for election year in New Zealand – and some wild predictions.

2020 New Zealand general election

This page links to information about General Elections in 2020.

Elections in New Zealand

The New Zealand election process.

Voting in an election

Voting gives you a say on the people and political parties that will represent you in Parliament.

New Zealand Pacific Party

This cap represents the Pacific Party.

Dancing Cossacks

The dancing Cossacks anti-Labour party political TV ad.

Greens should stay as nature intended

Greens should stay as nature intended

In Chris Slane’s cartoon, New Zealand Prime Minister at the time Helen Clark is trying to plunge a fork into some vegetables labelled 'GE' (genetic engineering) and are running off a plate. This re...

The Commission for the Future is scrapped

The Commission for the Future is scrapped

Cartoonists loved drawing our 31st Prime Minister, Rob Muldoon. Muldoon was a controversial figure who polarised the public, especially during the 1981 Springbok Rugby tour. Here he is depicted as ...

Opening of the life-saving season

Opening of the life-saving season

This highly detailed cartoon features a middle-aged couple (representing New Zealand) asleep in deck chairs as the tide rolls in around them. Racing to their rescue are two life guard teams with op...

Fences, decks, barbeques, and do-it-yourself (DIY) is a strong cultural trait in a New Zealand psyche based around self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Even prime ministers have been known to do a s...

Get on the roll

Get on the roll

This witty take on ‘toilet humour’ is cartoonist Martin Doyle’s take on the 2011 November general election. It is also a satirical dig at the electoral process and an exhortation (of sorts) to tert...

New Zealand election ads

This website is an archive for students and researchers, interested in NZ election ads.

Government (New Zealand)

Government (New Zealand)

New Zealand has a democratic system of government, with elections taking place every three years. The head of government is the Prime Minister. The system of government is also called a constitutio...

Electoral systems

Different electoral systems deliver different numbers of parties in Parliament.

Electoral systems, voting and political attitudes

There are many factors, such as age, social class and gender, that influence how people vote.

A short animation explaining the work of the New Zealand Parliament.

Teaching voting at school

Help your students become active, enthusiastic citizens with Kids Voting – Te Pōti a Ngā Tamariki as well as through a range of curriculum-based teaching units.

Elections in New Zealand

A guided tour of the New Zealand electoral system from the Electoral Commission –Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri.

Information from the Electoral Commission – Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri about how to vote, finding your electorate, the latest news and more.

New Zealand election results

Official New Zealand results for General Elections, By-elections and Referendum.

Māori seats? What are they?

Whether you want them or not Māori seats are a part of Parliament, but where did they come from?

General Elections 2020

Election day for the 2020 New Zealand General Election is Saturday 19 September. This resource page provides ideas and resources to help you plan programmes of learning around this significant event.

Elections timetable 2020

In an election year, a number of significant events alter the day to day workings of Parliament. This timeline outlines key dates before and after the election, explains what happens at each stage ...

This page provides general information about the matters Ministers, departments and other state sector agencies should consider in an election year.

Nation and government

New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy. The prime minister is the head of New Zealand’s government, which must have majority support of members of Parliament.

Tōrangapū – Māori and political parties

From the outset, Māori sought representation within Aotearoa’s government, seeing it as a vital way to promote their people’s rights and wellbeing.

General elections have always been important public events. The experience of voting in the mid-19th century, though, was very different from today.

New Zealand History – Nga Korero a Ipurangi o Aotearoa resources about the history of elections in New Zealand.

Māori and the vote

The involvement of the indigenous Māori people in New Zealand's electoral system is one of the most remarkable stories in this country's political history.

Reports about elections throughout the Pacific region.

Voting systems in the UK

The House of Commons, Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly, European Parliament and UK local authorities use different voting systems.

New Zealand has one of the world’s oldest continuously functioning parliaments. Māori were represented in Parliament from 1867, and in 1893 women gained the vote.

Ngā māngai – Māori representation

Four parliamentary seats to represent Māori were introduced in 1867, with the intention that they would be abolished after five years. In 2002, the seats increased in number to seven.

Special votes cast in general election, 6 December 1905

In 1905, for the first time in New Zealand’s electoral history, registered voters who were away from their electorate on polling day were able to cast a ‘special’ absentee vote at any polling booth...

Māori and the vote

The involvement of the indigenous Māori people in New Zealand's electoral system is one of the most remarkable stories in this country's political history.

Queen Elizabeth II and our elections

For the last 67 years, a global icon has played an important but mostly unnoticed role in our Parliament. In an election year, what duties does the Queen of New Zealand have?

General roll or Māori roll – which one to choose?

In 2018 the Māori Electoral Option was launched, giving Māori the opportunity to enrol on the Māori or the general roll.

Forms of Government

20 of the most commonly noted forms of governance and a few real-world examples.

The fight to vote

In New Zealand on 28 November 1893, women went to the polling booth for the first time. It was a famous victory – a radical change – but it didn't come without a fight.

The winning side

This story references general elections, in the context of an election to a school council. “The Winning Side” introduces a few big ideas: the need for a platform, the importance of giving everyone...

Forms of government

While the responsibilities of all governments are similar, those duties are executed in different ways depending on the form of government.

Number of electorates and electoral populations: 2018 Census

The number of electorates and electoral populations are used by the Representation Commission to determine the general and Māori electorate boundaries.

Data on an extensive range of aspects of democracy and elections worldwide.

USA Presidential election process

Learn about the USA presidential election process, including the Electoral College, caucuses and primaries, and the national conventions.

Elections and campaigns

Politicians kissing babies and television advertisements trying to convince voters one party is better than another are all part of the run-up to an election.

Prime Ministers (New Zealand)

These pages from Many Answers will guide you to reviewed websites and databases on (New Zealand) Prime Ministers.

Local body elections

These pages from Many Answers will guide you to reviewed websites and databases on (New Zealand) local body elections. .

General Elections (New Zealand)

These pages from Many Answers will guide you to reviewed websites and databases on (New Zealand) Elections.

Parliament in election year

Every three years, New Zealand holds a general election. In the lead up to the election there will be some changes to the usual daily workings of Parliament. This section explains what some of thes...

New Zealand Parliament: Resources

Find out about the resources available from New Zealand Parliament Education Services for use by students and schools.

Parliament TV On Demand

Watch Parliament TV On Demand to see what your MPs debated. Videos are typically available on the same day as the live broadcast, but in some cases they make take up to 24 hours to appear.

The complete guide to NZ Election 2020

On 17 October, NZ will vote in the most important election of a generation. Get across the policies, candidates, parties and referendums to decide who to vote for.

Democracy in Aotearoa/New Zealand

A series of podcast stories about politics and democracy in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Women's Suffrage - Gisborne

Women's Suffrage - Gisborne

Signatories to the Women's Suffrage from Gisborne

NZ Election 2020

An article covering the elections, electoral system, who can vote, and how a Government is formed.

Find more information about the New Zealand General Elections on EPIC. Databases recommended: New Zealand Geographic, Australia New Zealand Reference, New Zealand History Collection (BWB). School l...

Cost of general elections

This article from 1912 sums up the total cost of the general elections to the government and cost per vote.

Whakatū Wāhine

Voices of Women Voters of 1893.

NZ election 2020: What are you voting for?

NZ election 2020: What are you voting for?

On top of the usual two ticks for parties and electorate MPs, New Zealanders had to vote on two referendum questions.

Top results for General Elections from AnyQuestions

Elections (New Zealand)

Elections (New Zealand)

General elections (or parliamentary elections) are held every 3 years when New Zealanders get the opportunity to...

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Local body elections

Local body elections

Local body elections are held every 3 years on the second Saturday in October. This is when people in New Zealand get...

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Government (New Zealand)

Government (New Zealand)

New Zealand has a democratic system of government, with elections taking place every three years. The head of...

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Prime Ministers (New Zealand)

Prime Ministers (New Zealand)

The Prime Minister is the political leader of the New Zealand government and the country. In this entry we will look...

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