Close message

Services to Schools

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

Filter by media type

Display as

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...

Class of 1984

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 percentage of eligible voters who actually vote has been failling it the 2000s, it remains relatively high when compared to other countries. Many of those who take part enjoy it, knowi...

Electoral systems

Electoral systems: the call for electoral reform.

Pro-MMP poster

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 ...

MMP poster

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...

Election crowds

Election crowds

Crowds gather, it is time to get some results.

Children & The Election

Children & The Election

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 ...

A message

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...

Parliament cartoon

Parliament cartoon

Although drawn over sixty years ago this cartoon has just as much relevance today. Two people are leaving Parliament grounds, (Parliament is directly behind them) and walking out onto Wellington’s ...

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).

General election

General election

Prime Minister Bill English, announces election date for New Zealand's 2017 general election.

Workers unite in struggle

This protest poster depicting a raised fist in broken chains and a dramatic use of words quickly grabs the reader’s attention – exactly what it is supposed to do. Political posters are designed to ...

What is the MMP voting system?

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

How is Parliament made up?

MMP is a proportional representation voting system.

MMP voting system

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

Members of Parliament

Parliament has many activities and purposes.

2017 General election handbooks

Handbooks provide guidance and advice around rules, regulations, to parties, candidates, media and more in the lead up to the general election.

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.

Electoral systems, voting and political attitudes

Voting behaviour.

NZ First campaign launch speech

2017 in politics.

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

New Zealand general election

This page links to information about General Elections.

Power to the people...?: ka hoki he mana ki te iwi?

Outlines a history of democracy and looks at some of the ways in which voting has been restricted in democratic countries.

2017 General Election

Everything you need to know about the 2017 general election.

Election 2017: what kind of health are the parties in?

Guides & factsheets

A petition: Women’s Suffrage Petition

In 1893 Aotearoa New Zealand became the first country in the world in which all women gained the right to vote in general elections. Find out about the New Zealand Women’s Suffrage Petition — Te Pe...

Green Party launches publicity campaign

(Reduce line spacing)A short animation explaining the work of the New Zealand Parliament.

Make your voice heard in the General Election.

Elections in New Zealand

The New Zealand election process.

National’s campaign video for 2017

Don’t be an egg!

Explains the mixed member proportional (MMP) electoral system and New Zealand coalition governments.

New Zealand General elections

General elections 1853-2014 dates and turnout.

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.

Academic predicts a 'youth yawn' in New Zealand election

A political scientist has predicted that for young people, the New Zealand 2017 election is going to be a bland affair if our politicians don't step up to the plate.

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...

Norman Kirk

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...

The case for and against MMP

There are good things and bad things about MMP.

Labour's 2005 New Zealand election opening broadcast.

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...