New Zealand

House of Representatives

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

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): 23 Sep 2017
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 22 Aug 2017
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake: 120
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election: 26

Notes: 3 gender diverse/not specified.
Total number of candidates: 534
Number of male candidates: 341
Number of female candidates: 190

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 other candidates: 3
Percentage of women candidates: 35.6%

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 3,298,009
Voters: 2,630,173
Voter turnout: 79.8%

Results

About 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: 5
Percentage of parties winning seats: 19.2%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 38.3%
Alternation of power after elections: Yes
Number of parties in government: 2
Names of parties in government: Labour Party, New Zealand First party

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
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: 38.3%
Women Directly Elected: 46
Sources: House of Representatives (25.10.2017)

Electoral Commission (29.10.2017)

New Zealand Herald

The Guardian

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 74
Total number of women after the election: 46
Percentage of women after the election: 38.3%
First-term parliamentarians: 31
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 25.8%
Date of the first session: 07 Nov 2017

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Trevor Mallard (Male)
Date of birth: 1957
Political party: Labour Party
Date of election: 07 Nov 2017