New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)
Your one-stop-shop for information about national parliaments

New Zealand

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House of Representatives

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Unicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
23.09.2017
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
22.08.2017
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
30.09.2020
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
120
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
534
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
341
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
190
The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.
No
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
35.58%
Notes
366 candidates ran under both majority and proportional representation (PR) systems. In addition, 81 candidates ran only under the PR and 87 others stood only for the majority system. 16 parties fielded candidates under the proportional representation system. In addition 10 more parties and independents ran under the majority system.
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
26
Number of other candidates Number of other candidates
3
Notes
3 gender diverse/not specified.

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
3,298,009
Votes Number of people who actually voted
2,630,173
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
79.75%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
No party took an outright majority in the 120-member Parliament. Prime Minister Bill English's National Party remained the largest party with 56 seats, losing four; while the Labour Party, led by Ms. Jacinda Ardern, increased its representation from 32 to 46 seats. On 24 October, the Labour Party and the New Zealand First party, led by former Foreign Minister Winston Peters, signed a coalition agreement under Ms. Ardern's leadership. The Green Party also entered into a confidence and supply agreement with the Labour Party. On 26 October, Ms. Ardern was officially sworn in as the new Prime Minister, becoming at 37 the country's youngest Prime Minister and the third woman to assume the post. The 2017 elections were the first to be held after the resignation in December 2016 of long-serving Prime Minister John Key, who had held the position since 2008. In August 2017, Ms. Ardern became Labour Party leader, following Mr. Andrew Little. During the election campaign, the major parties focused on climate change, regional development and poverty reduction.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
5
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
19.23%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
38.33%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Yes
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Labour Party, New Zealand First party
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total Electorate List
New Zealand First 9 0 9
Green Party 8 0 8
ACT New Zealand 1 0 1
Labour Party 46 29 17
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
74
Number of women elected
46
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
38.33%
Sources
House of Representatives (25.10.2017) Electoral Commission (29.10.2017) New Zealand Herald The Guardian
Women Directly Elected
46

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
74
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
46
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
31
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
07.11.2017
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Trevor Mallard (Male)
Political party
Labour Party
Date of election
07.11.2017