Elections in New Zealand 370181 216839523 2008-06-03T13:30:02Z 60.234.226.62 copyedit {{Politics of New Zealand}} Members of [[New Zealand]]'s [[New Zealand Parliament|House of Representatives]], commonly called "[[Parliament]]", normally gain their parliamentary [[legislative seat|seats]] through nationwide general [[election]]s, or (less frequently) in [[by-election]]s. General elections normally occur at least every three years in New Zealand, and operate using the [[Electoral system of New Zealand|Mixed Member Proportional electoral system]]. The [[Chief Electoral Office (New Zealand)|Chief Electoral Office]] and the [[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] co-ordinate the electoral system. == Overview of elections == === Voting === New Zealand general elections occur when the [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] requests a dissolution of Parliament and therefore a general election. Theoretically, this can happen at any time, although a convention exists whereby Prime Ministers do not call elections unless they have no reasonable alternative. Elections always take place on a Saturday, so as to minimise work-commitments inhibiting people from voting. Voting (the casting of ballots) happens at various [[polling station]]s, generally established in schools, church halls, or other such public places. The 2005 election made use of 6,094 such polling stations. The voting process uses printed voting ballots, with voters marking their choices (one vote for a candidate and one vote for a party — see [[Electoral system of New Zealand]]) with an ink pen provided for their use. The voter then places the voting paper in a sealed [[ballot box]]. Voters can alternatively cast "special votes" if genuinely unable to attend a regular polling place (for example, if they have travelled overseas, or have impaired mobility). === Timing of elections === New Zealand general elections generally occur every three years. Unlike some other countries, New Zealand has no fixed election-date, but rather the [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] determines the timing of general elections. Convention dictates that a general election should take place roughly three years after the previous general election — unless a major crisis arises or the Prime Minister loses the ability to command a majority in parliament. The 1910s, 1930s and 1940s saw three elections delayed due to [[World War I]], the [[Great Depression]] and [[World War II]], respectively: the [[New Zealand general election 1919|1919]], [[New Zealand general election 1935|1935]] and [[New Zealand general election 1943|1943]] elections would otherwise have taken place in 1917, 1934 and 1941 (Parliaments passed Acts extending their terms). Section 17 of the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1986|Constitution Act 1986]] describes the term of a Parliament as "3 years from the day fixed for the return of the writs issued for the last preceding general election of members of the House of Representatives, and no longer." Section 19 of the Constitution Act says that "Parliament shall meet not later than 6 weeks after the day fixed for the return of the writs for that election." The writ for an election has to be issued <!-- by whom? -->before the dissolution of the current Parliament. Early or [[snap election|"snap" elections]] have occurred at least three times in New Zealand's history: in [[New Zealand general election 1951|1951]], [[New Zealand general election 1984|1984]] and [[New Zealand general election 2002|2002]]. Early elections often provoke controversy, as they potentially give governing parties an advantage over opposition candidates. Note that of the three elections in which the government won an increased majority, two involved snap elections (1951 and 2002) — the other incumbent-boosting election took place in [[New Zealand general election 1938|1938]]). The 1984 snap election backfired on the government of the day: many believe that the Prime Minister, [[Robert Muldoon]], called it while drunk.<ref>[http://www.salient.co.nz/index.php?a=1894&c=17 REHABILITATED: TOM SCOTT]</ref><ref>[http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_politics_story_skin/34506 Sips causing political slips]</ref> ''See [[Snap election#New Zealand]].'' The [[New Zealand general election 1996|1996]] election took place slightly early (on [[12 October]]) to avoid holding a by-election after the resignation of [[Michael Laws]]. The Prime Minister's power to determine the election date can give the government some subtle advantages. For example, if governing parties believe that a section of the population will either vote against them or not at all, they might hold the election in early spring, when the weather may well keep less-committed voters away from the polls. Party strategists take the timing of important [[rugby union]] matches into account, partly because a major match in the same weekend of the election will likely lower voting-levels, and partly because of a wide-spread belief that incumbent governments benefit from a surge of national pride when the [[All Blacks]] (the New Zealand national rugby team) win and suffer when they lose. Tradition associates elections with November — give or take a few weeks. After disruptions to the 36-month cycle, Prime Ministers tend to strive to restore it to a November base. Barring crises, the [[as of 2007|next]] [[New Zealand general election, 2008|general election]] should occur before Saturday [[15 November]] [[2008]]. === Electoral roll === The [[electoral roll]] consists of a register of all eligible voters, organised (primarily alphabetically by surname) within electorates. All persons who meet the requirements for voting must by law register on the electoral roll, even if they do not intend to vote. The roll records the name, address and stated [[wikt:occupation|occupation]] of all voters, although individual electors can apply for "unpublished" status on the roll in special circumstances, such as when having their details printed in the electoral roll could threaten their [[personal safety]]. === Electorates === {{main|New Zealand electorates}} New Zealanders refer to voting districts as "[[New Zealand electorates|electorates]]", or as "seats". Following the [http://www.elections.org.nz/administration/topic--final-electorate-boundaries.html work]] of the 2007 Representation Commission review, New Zealand [[as of 2008 | from 2008 on]] will have seventy geographical electorates. The Commission added one general electorate in Auckland called [[Botany (New Zealand electorate) | Botany]]. The seventy electorates will include seven [[Māori seats|Māori electorates]] specially set up for people of [[Māori]] ethnicity or ancestry who choose to place themselves on a separate electoral roll. All electorates have roughly the same number of people in them — the Representation Commission periodically reviews and alters electorate boundaries to preserve this approximate balance. The number of people per electorate depends on the population of the [[South Island]] — this, [[as of 2008 | currently]] the less populous of the country's two main islands, has sixteen guaranteed electorates, so the ideal number of people per electorate equals the population of the South Island divided by sixteen. From this, the Commission determines the number of [[North Island]], Māori and [[Party-list proportional representation | list]] seats, which may fluctuate accordingly. Supplementing the geographically-based electorate seats, the system [[as of 2007|currently]] allows for fifty-one at-large "list seats". A nation-wide "party-vote" fills these seats from lists submitted by political parties; they serve to make a party's total share of seats in parliament reflect its share of the party vote. For example, if a party wins 20% of the party vote, but only ten electorate seats, it will win fourteen list-seats, so that it has a total of 24 seats: 20% of the 120 seats in parliament. (For further explanation see [[Electoral system of New Zealand]].) === Vote-counting and announcement === Polling places close at 7.00pm on election day. The process of the counting of the votes by polling officials then begins. Results (at this stage provisional ones) go to a central office in the capital, [[Wellington, New Zealand|Wellington]], for announcement as they arrive. In recent years, a dedicated official website, "[http://www.electionresults.govt.nz www.electionresults.govt.nz]" has provided "live" election-result updates. Electoral officers generally complete the provisional counting of ordinary votes on the night of the election, but counting of special votes (see "Voting") can take longer, occasionally producing surprise upsets. In [[New Zealand general election, 1999|1999]] the provisional result indicated that neither the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Greens]] or [[New Zealand First]] would qualify for Parliament, but both parties qualified on the strength of extra special votes, and the so-called "major parties" ended up with fewer list seats than expected. The final results of the election become official when confirmed by the Chief Electoral Officer. == History of voting in New Zealand == ::''Main article: [[History of voting in New Zealand]]'' The first national elections in New Zealand took place in [[1853]], the year after the [[United Kingdom|British]] government passed the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1852]]. Note that New Zealand claims to have become the first country in the world to have granted women's suffrage, although the accuracy of this claim depends on the definitions used (see [[Women's suffrage]]). == Results == {{New Zealand elections}} === General elections === The following table lists all [[as of 2007|previous]] general elections held in New Zealand (note that elections for Māori seats initially took place at different times from elections for general seats). The table displays the dates of the elections, the officially recorded voter turnout, and the number of seats in Parliament at the time. On the right the table shows the number of seats won by the four most dominant parties in New Zealand's history (the [[New Zealand Liberal Party|Liberal Party]] and the [[New Zealand Reform Party|Reform Party]], which later merged to form the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]], and the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]]), as well as the number won by other candidates (either independents or members of smaller political parties). {|border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" width=90% |- !rowspan=3|Term !rowspan=3|Election !rowspan=3|Date(s) !rowspan=3|Official turnout !rowspan=3|Total seats !bgcolor=#FFFFDD|Liberal&nbsp; !rowspan=2 bgcolor=#DDFFDD|Reform !rowspan=3 bgcolor=#FFE8E8|Labour !rowspan=3 bgcolor=#DDDDDD|Others !rowspan=3|Indep. |- style="background:#FFFFFE;" |colspan=1 align=center|'''United''' |- style="background:#DDEEFF;" |colspan=2 align=center|'''National''' |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[1st New Zealand Parliament|1st]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1853|1853 election]] |align=center|[[4 July]]–[[1 October]] |align=center|No record |align=center|37 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|37 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[2nd New Zealand Parliament|2nd]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1855|1855 election]] |align=center|[[28 October]]–[[28 December]] |align=center|No record |align=center|37 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|37 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[3rd New Zealand Parliament|3rd]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1860-1861|1860-1861 election]] |align=center|[[12 December]]–[[28 March]] |align=center|No record |align=center|53 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|53 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[4th New Zealand Parliament|4th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1866|1866 election]] |align=center|[[12 February]]–[[6 April]] |align=center|No record |align=center|70 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|70 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[5th New Zealand Parliament|5th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1871|1871 election]] |align=center|[[14 January]]–[[23 February]] |align=center|No record |align=center|78 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|78 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[6th New Zealand Parliament|6th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1875-1876|1875-1876 election]] |align=center|[[30 December]]–[[28 March]] |align=center|No record |align=center|88 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|88 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[7th New Zealand Parliament|7th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1879|1879 election]] |align=center|[[28 August]]–[[15 September]] |align=center|66.5% |align=center|88 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|88 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[8th New Zealand Parliament|8th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1881|1881 election]] |align=center|[[9 December]] |align=center|66.5% |align=center|95 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|95 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[9th New Zealand Parliament|9th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1884|1884 election]] |align=center|[[22 June]] |align=center|60.6% |align=center|95 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|95 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[10th New Zealand Parliament|10th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1887|1887 election]] |align=center|[[26 September]] |align=center|67.1% |align=center|95 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|95 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[11th New Zealand Parliament|11th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1890|1890 election]] |align=center|[[5 December]] |align=center|80.4% |align=center|74 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|74 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[12th New Zealand Parliament|12th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1893|1893 election]] |align=center|[[28 November]] |align=center|75.3% |align=center|74 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|51 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|23 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[13th New Zealand Parliament|13th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1896|1896 election]] |align=center|[[4 December]] |align=center|76.1% |align=center|74 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|39 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|35 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[14th New Zealand Parliament|14th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1899|1899 election]] |align=center|[[6 December]] |align=center|77.6% |align=center|74 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|49 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|25 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[15th New Zealand Parliament|15th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1902|1902 election]] |align=center|[[25 November]] |align=center|76.7% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|47 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|33 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[16th New Zealand Parliament|16th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1905|1905 election]] |align=center|[[6 December]] |align=center|83.3% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|58 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|22 |- |colspan=10|''[[Second Ballot]] period'' |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[17th New Zealand Parliament|17th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1908|1908 election]] |align=center|[[17 November]], [[24 November]], [[1 December]] |align=center|79.8% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|50 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|- |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|1 |align=center|29 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[18th New Zealand Parliament|18th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1911|1911 election]] |align=center|[[7 December]], [[14 December]] |align=center|83.5% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|33 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|37 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|4 |align=center|6 |- |colspan=10|''Return to [[FPP]]'' |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[19th New Zealand Parliament|19th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1914|1914 election]] |align=center|[[10 December]] |align=center|84.7% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|33 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|41 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|- |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|5 |align=center|1 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[20th New Zealand Parliament|20th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1919|1919 election]] |align=center|[[17 December]] |align=center|80.5% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|21 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|47 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|8 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|4 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[21st New Zealand Parliament|21st]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1922|1922 election]] |align=center|[[7 December]] |align=center|88.7% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|22 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|37 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|17 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|4 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[22nd New Zealand Parliament|22nd]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1925|1925 election]] |align=center|[[4 November]] |align=center|90.9% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFDD|11 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|55 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|12 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|2 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[23rd New Zealand Parliament|23rd]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1928|1928 election]] |align=center|[[14 November]] |align=center|88.1% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFFE|27 |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|27 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|19 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|1 |align=center|6 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[24th New Zealand Parliament|24th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1931|1931 election]] |align=center|[[2 December]] |align=center|83.3% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFFE|19<nowiki>*</nowiki> |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|28<nowiki>*</nowiki> |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|24 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|1 |align=center|8 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[25th New Zealand Parliament|25th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1935|1935 election]] |align=center|[[27 November]] |align=center|90.8% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#FFFFFE|7<nowiki>*</nowiki> |align=center bgcolor=#DDFFDD|9<nowiki>*</nowiki> |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|53 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|4 |align=center|7 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[26th New Zealand Parliament|26th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1938|1938 election]] |align=center|[[15 October]] |align=center|92.9% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|25 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|53 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|2 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[27th New Zealand Parliament|27th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1943|1943 election]] |align=center|[[25 September]] |align=center|82.8% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|34 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|45 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|1 |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[28th New Zealand Parliament|28th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1946|1946 election]] |align=center|[[24 November]] |align=center|93.5% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|38 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|42 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[29th New Zealand Parliament|29th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1949|1949 election]] |align=center|[[30 November]] |align=center|93.5% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|46 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|34 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[30th New Zealand Parliament|30th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1951|1951 election]] |align=center|[[27 December]] |align=center|89.1% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|50 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|30 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[31st New Zealand Parliament|31st]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1954|1954 election]] |align=center|[[13 November]] |align=center|91.4% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|45 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|35 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[32nd New Zealand Parliament|32nd]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1957|1957 election]] |align=center|[[30 November]] |align=center|92.9% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|39 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|41 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[33rd New Zealand Parliament|33rd]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1960|1960 election]] |align=center|[[26 November]] |align=center|89.8% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|46 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|34 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[34th New Zealand Parliament|34th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1963|1963 election]] |align=center|[[30 November]] |align=center|89.6% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|45 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|35 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[35th New Zealand Parliament|35th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1966|1966 election]] |align=center|[[26 November]] |align=center|86.0% |align=center|80 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|44 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|35 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|1 |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[36th New Zealand Parliament|36th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1969|1969 election]] |align=center|[[26 November]] |align=center|88.9% |align=center|84 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|45 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|39 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[37th New Zealand Parliament|37th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1972|1972 election]] |align=center|[[25 November]] |align=center|89.1% |align=center|87 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|32 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|55 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[38th New Zealand Parliament|38th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1975|1975 election]] |align=center|[[29 November]] |align=center|82.5% |align=center|87 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|55 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|32 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[39th New Zealand Parliament|39th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1978|1978 election]] |align=center|[[25 November]] |align=center|69.2%** |align=center|92 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|51 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|40 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|1 |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[40th New Zealand Parliament|40th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1981|1981 election]] |align=center|[[28 November]] |align=center|91.4% |align=center|92 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|47 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|43 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|2 |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[41st New Zealand Parliament|41st]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1984|1984 election]] |align=center|[[14 July]] |align=center|93.7% |align=center|95 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|37 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|56 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|2 |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[42nd New Zealand Parliament|42nd]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1987|1987 election]] |align=center|[[15 August]] |align=center|89.1% |align=center|97 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|40 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|57 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|- |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[43rd New Zealand Parliament|43rd]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1990|1990 election]] |align=center|[[27 October]] |align=center|85.2% |align=center|97 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|67 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|29 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|1 |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[44th New Zealand Parliament|44th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1993|1993 election]] |align=center|[[6 November]] |align=center|85.2% |align=center|99 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|50 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|45 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|4 |align=center|- |- |colspan=10|''MMP era'' |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[45th New Zealand Parliament|45th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1996|1996 election]] |align=center|[[12 October]] |align=center|88.3% |align=center|120 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|44 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|37 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|39 |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[46th New Zealand Parliament|46th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 1999|1999 election]] |align=center|[[27 November]] |align=center|84.1% |align=center|120 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|39 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|49 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|32 |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[47th New Zealand Parliament|47th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 2002|2002 election]] |align=center|[[27 July]] |align=center|77.0% |align=center|120 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|27 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|52 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|41 |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|[[48th New Zealand Parliament|48th]] |[[New Zealand general election, 2005|2005 election]] |align=center|[[17 September]] |align=center|80.9% |align=center|121 |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2|48 |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8|50 |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD|23 |align=center|- |- style="background:#EEEEEE;" |align=center|''[[49th New Zealand Parliament|49th]]'' |''[[New Zealand general election, 2008|2008 election]]'' |align=center|''[[2008]]'' |align=center| |align=center| |align=center bgcolor=#DDEEFF colspan=2| |align=center bgcolor=#FFE8E8| |align=center bgcolor=#DDDDDD| |align=center| |} <small><nowiki>*</nowiki> The [[United Party (New Zealand)|United Party]] (a regrouping of the Liberals) and the Reform Party contested the 1931 and 1935 elections as a coalition, but did not formally merge as the National Party until 1936.<br /> <nowiki>**</nowiki> Due to major problems with the enrolment process, commentators generally consider that the 1978 election had a significantly higher turnout than official figures indicate.<ref>[http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/elections_dates_turnout.html General elections 1853-2005 - dates and turnout figures]</ref> See [[New Zealand general election, 1978]].</small> === By-elections === {{see|New Zealand by-elections}} == Notes == {{reflist}} == See also == * [[Electoral calendar]] * [[Electoral system]] * [[Electoral reform in New Zealand]] * [[Electoral system of New Zealand]] * [[History of voting in New Zealand]] * [[Mixed Member Proportional]] * [[Referendums in New Zealand]] * [[New Zealand by-elections]] == External links == *[http://www.elections.govt.nz/ Electoral Commission website] *[http://www.electionresults.govt.nz Official election results website] *[http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/n/newzealand/ Adam Carr's Election Archive] <br/>{{Oceania topic|Elections in}} {{New Zealand topics}} <!--Categories--> <!--Other languages--> [[Category:Elections in New Zealand| ]] [[Category:Constitution of New Zealand]]