• New Zealand Regions
      • Hawke's Bay
      • Bay of Plenty
      • Waikato
      • Whanganui
      • Manawatu
      • Northland
      • Auckland
      • Gisborne
      • Taranaki
      • Wellington
      • West Coast
      • Nelson
      • Canterbury
      • Otago
      • Marlborough
      • Southland
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      Hawke's Bay

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      Beaches, wineries and Art Deco. The Hawke's Bay has a diverse economy, including business services that support its sectors to be the second largest contributor to regional GDP in the country. A popular tourist destination, the region has some of the countries best restaurants as well as stunning scenery, markets and festivals.

      Districts

      HastingsNapier

      Bay of Plenty

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      The Bay of Plenty is officially New Zealand's sunniest destination, enjoying short-lived winters and long summer days. The Region offers some of the country's most spectacular views and many ways to enjoy the pristine scenery and natural wonders. Visitors also enjoy exploring the Bay's Māori heritage and pre-European roots.

      Districts

      OpotikiOpotiki iSiteKawerauWhakatane

      Waikato

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      The Waikato is known for its rolling plains, fertile land and the mighty Waikato River. The region is the fourth largest regional economy in New Zealand, with a strong focus on primary production and associated manufacturing.

      Districts

      South WaikatoWaikato District

      Whanganui

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      Welcome to Whanganui. This is our place; where history is full of stories, legends and rich legacy. Where a thriving arts scene, creativity and evolving culture inspire our modern lives. Where breath-taking natural landscapes capture imaginations at every turn.

      Manawatu

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      Located in the lower North Island, Manawatu is heartland New Zealand, offering an authentic Kiwi experience.

      The main in the region are Palmerston North, most notable for Massey University. Palmerston has a vibrant, arts and culture scene.

      The region's economy is based on food production and processing, research and education. The region is also home for the New Zealand defence force.

      Northland

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      Northland was originally home to some of our country's first human inhabitants. Today, it is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand and home to nearly 189,000 people. Rich in culture and history, the region boasts a stunning natural environment.

      Auckland

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      Auckland Region stretches from the the beaches of the Pacific Ocean in the east to the expansive beaches of the rugged west coast of the Tasman Sea. Auckland City, the largest urban area in New Zealand is considered the main economic center of New Zealand and a popular destination for international students and travellers.

      Gisborne

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      Gisborne is a Region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's known for wineries and surf beaches such as Makorori. The region has maintained a strong Maori heritage. The region's economy is made up mainly of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

      Taranaki

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      Taranaki is a coastal and mountainous region on the western side of New Zealand's North Island. Its landscape is dominated by Mount Taranaki, its namesake volcano, which lies within the rainforested Egmont National Park.

      The port city of New Plymouth is the area's cultural and commercial hub. Taranaki's economy is diverse and includes dairy, oil and gas. The region is the highest contributor or national GDP per capita. 

      Wellington

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      The Wellington Region covers Wellington city in the south, Upper and Lower Hutt valleys to the north-east, and Porirua to the north-west. The region takes its name from Wellington, New Zealand's capital city.

      Wellington is famous for its arts and culture scene and is also the centre of New Zealand's film industry.

      West Coast

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      The West Coast, or as some locals call it, the "Wild West", is a long thin region that runs down the South Island's west coast.

      The region has the lowest population in all of New Zealand. It is famous for its rugged natural scenery such as the Pancake Rocks, the Blue Pools of Haast, and the glaciers.

      The main industries in the region are dairy farming and mining. Tourism also plays an important role.

      Nelson – Tasman

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      Nelson Tasman is an extraordinary, vibrant region where art and businesses thrive together among a stunning natural landscape. With one in five people internationally born, Nelson Tasman has 48 different cultures living in its environs.

      The region prides its self on being New Zealand’s leading Research and Development areas, with the highest proportion of people working in the research, science and tech sectors out of anywhere in New Zealand.

      Canterbury

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      Canterbury is a region on New Zealand’s South Island marked by grassy plains, clear lakes and snow-capped mountains. Its largest city, Christchurch, is famed for its art scene and green spaces.

      Otago

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      There are few places in the world which will leave you with a lasting sense of difference. Central Otago is undoubtedly one of them from its landscapes, its seasons, its people, its products and experiences.

      Marlborough

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      Marlborough Region is on the north-eastern corner of the South Island. The region is well known for its winemaking industry, and the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of coastal waterways, peninsulas and islands.

      Apart from the wine industry, aquaculture, agriculture and tourism play an important role in the local economy.

      Southland

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      Southland is New Zealand’s most southerly region and includes the World Heritage ranked Fiordland National Park.

      The region's only city Invercargill offers a relaxed pace of life with wide streets, little traffic, spacious parks and gardens, striking Victorian and Edwardian architecture and impressive sporting facilities including New Zealand’s first indoor velodrome. Southland's location is such that views of Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights are common.

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MMP voting system explained

Attention: This article was automatically translated and is still waiting on one of our editors to approve the translated content. 
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This is what you need to know about voting and MMP.


What is MMP?

MMP stands for Mixed Member Proportional representation, the electoral system used in New Zealand.

A majority of New Zealanders voted for it – twice, first in a non-binding referendum in 1992, and again in a binding referendum at the election the following year. It was introduced in the next election, in 1996.

MMP aims to ensure that people will be represented in Parliament both by a person in their local area (electorate), and by a group (a political party).

How does it work?

New Zealanders have two votes – one for a local representative, and one for a political party. You just pick the person in your area you think best advances your interests, and the political party that best represents your interests.

The complexity comes in when trying to calculate how these votes translate into the seats available for members of Parliament (MPs).

There are 120 seats:

  • 72 are electorate seats and are won by candidates standing in specific areas
  • 48 are list seats and are allocated depending on the proportion of party votes won, taking into account the number of electorate seats each party has won
  • Basically, it all means that the proportion of party votes should be about the same as the proportion of seats in the Parliament. While electorate MPs will belong to one party or another, voters do not need to vote for an electorate representative that matches their party vote.

    Other things to consider
    A party has to win at least 5 percent of votes or an electorate seat to win a seat in Parliament. If they win an electorate seat, the party gets allocated a percentage of list seats based on their party vote.

    If a party wins more electorates than its share of party votes allows for, extra seats can be added to make up for the “overhang” and ensure the proportions remain correct. This has happened in three elections, with 121 MPs in 2005, 122 MPs in 2008 and 121 in 2011.

    So who wins the election?
    In contrast to some countries overseas, the United States for example, the election in New Zealand is not voting for the country’s leader. People vote only for the parties and electorates.

    But someone has to be in charge. Someone has to make sure the organisations doing all the management of the country – funding hospitals and schools, repairing roads and infrastructure, managing prisons – all that administrative stuff, and more, is being done properly.

    This responsibility – and the power it entails – belongs to the government.

    Who gets to become the government is basically whichever party can get a majority – more than 50 percent – of the seats, based on their party vote. If none of the parties has enough to reach more than 50 percent, they must negotiate with each other about their plans until a combination of the parties has more than half the seats.

    This can result in either a coalition – where the bigger party and smaller party form a government together and come up with a complete policy plan – or a confidence and supply agreement, where the smaller parties agree to support the main, governing, party on specific policies.

    Under confidence and supply, the smaller party does not need to support policies that fall outside the agreement.

    With 50 percent of the seats in Parliament, the governing party or coalition can decide what to change about how the country works and enact these decisions in Parliament.

    The governing parties have most of the power. The parties that are not governing are known as the opposition, and it is their job to criticise and poke holes in the plans the government is putting forward.


    Will MMP ever change?

    Not everyone likes MMP, but last time we checked, more people wanted to keep it than replace it.

    In the 2011 election, a referendum – much like the recreational cannabis and end of life choice referendums this election – was held to see if MMP was still the preferred way of doing things.

    The referendum asked two questions: whether voters wanted to keep MMP or replace it, and secondly what system would be preferred if it was changed. Almost 58 percent of voters wanted to keep it, an increase of 3.91 over the 1993 binding referendum.

    Nevertheless, the result triggered an Electoral Commission to review how well MMP was working.

    The review recommended changes including:

    Lower the 5 percent party vote threshold to 4 percent
    Abolish the electorate seat threshold for allocating list seats
    Remove the overhang seats provision
    Consider fixing the ratio to 60:40 electorate to list seats
    None of these changes have been implemented yet.

    Although it is unlikely New Zealand will switch from MMP any time soon, it is possible we will see change to some of the rules.

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