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The politics of New Zealand ( Māori: tōrangapū o Aotearoa) function within a framework of an independent, unitary, parliamentary democracy. The system of government is based on the Westminster system, and the legal system is modelled on the common law of England. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy in which King Charles III is the ...
The New Zealand Parliament ( Māori: Pāremata Aotearoa) is the unicameral legislature of New Zealand, consisting of the Sovereign ( King-in-Parliament) and the New Zealand House of Representatives. The King is usually represented by his governor-general. [ 2]
The New Zealand Government (Māori: Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa [9]) is the central government through which political authority is exercised in New Zealand. As in most other parliamentary democracies , the term "Government" refers chiefly to the executive branch , and more specifically to the collective ministry directing the executive. [ 10 ]
New Zealand is a representative democracy in which members of the unicameral New Zealand Parliament gain their seats through elections. General elections are usually held every three years; they may be held at an earlier date (a "snap" election) at the discretion of the prime minister (advising the governor-general), but that usually only happens in the event of a vote of no confidence or ...
The centre-left New Zealand Labour Party and the centre-right New Zealand National Party are New Zealand's two major parties, having jointly contested each election since 1938. They are the only two New Zealand political parties to have won the popular vote in four consecutive elections twice. Labour won the popular vote from the 1938 election ...
In 1994, Parliament officially adopted MMP as New Zealand's electoral system. Its defining characteristic is a mix of members of Parliament (MPs) from single-seat electorates and MPs elected from a party list, with each party's share of seats determined by its share of the party vote nationwide. [ 27] The first MMP election was held in 1996.
The Imperial Parliament (Westminster) passed the first New Zealand Constitution Act 1846 empowering the government in New Zealand in 1846. The Act was to be fully implemented in 1848, but was never put in place because the governor-in-chief at the time, Sir George Grey, declined to apply it for a number of reasons.
The political history of New Zealand covers political events and trends related to the history of New Zealand, from the precolonial to the contemporary period, including significant milestones such as the attainment of self-government, transition to Dominion status, and ultimately, independence . Prior to British colonisation, politics in New ...