IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: New Zealand

New Zealand

5,124,100
Population (as of Jan. 1, 2022)

3,480,698
Registered Voters (as of None)

71.21%
Average Turnout

15
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.863
Regimes of the World Classification: Liberal Democracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: July 17, 1980
Ratified Date: Jan. 10, 1985

SIGI* Score: 14.0
Level of Discrimination: Very Low
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: March 30, 2007
Ratified Date: Sept. 25, 2008

HDI* Score: 0.938
Category: Very High
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
New Zealand House of Representatives		Assembly

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
- Represented by Governor-General Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins (since 25 January 2023)
Assembly: unicameral Parliament (Pāremata Aotearoa) with 120 seats

Description of electoral system:

The King is a hereditary monarch.
The Governor-General is nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by the monarch.
The parliamentary majority leader is appointed Prime Minister by the Governor-General.
In Parliament, 72 members are directly elected by plurality vote in 65 general constituencies and 7 Māori constituencies. Each set of constituencies covers the entire country, and Māori voters may choose to vote in either their local Māori or general constituency. An additional 48 members are directly elected by closed party-list proportional representation vote. All members serve 3-year terms.

Elections

2023-10-14 | Status: Held
New Zealand House of Representatives
Votes 2,884,111
Registered 3,480,698
Turnout 82.86

2020-10-17 | Status: Held
New Zealand House of Representatives
Votes 2,919,073
Registered 3,549,580
Turnout 82.24

2020-10-17 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,908,071
Registered 3,549,564
Turnout 81.93

2017-09-23 | Status: Held
New Zealand House of Representatives
Votes 2,169,802
Registered 3,569,830
Turnout 60.78

2016-03-03 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,124,507
Registered 3,158,576
Turnout 67.26

2015-12-15 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,546,734
Registered 3,170,726
Turnout 48.78

2014-09-20 | Status: Held
New Zealand House of Representatives
Votes 2,416,481
Registered 3,140,417
Turnout 76.95

2013-11-22 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,368,925
Registered 3,037,405
Turnout 45.07

2011-11-26 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,257,243
Registered 3,070,847
Turnout 73.51

2011-11-26 | Status: Held
New Zealand House of Representatives
Votes 2,278,989
Registered 3,070,847
Turnout 74.21

2009-08-25 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,684,402
Registered 3,002,968
Turnout 56.09

2008-11-08 | Status: Held
New Zealand House of Representatives
Votes 2,376,480
Registered 2,990,759
Turnout 79.46

2005-09-17 | Status: Held
New Zealand House of Representatives
Votes 2,286,190
Registered 2,822,148
Turnout 81.01

2002-07-27 | Status: Held
New Zealand House of Representatives
Votes 2,040,248
Registered 2,670,030
Turnout 76.41

1999-11-27 | Status: Held
New Zealand House of Representatives
Votes 2,047,473
Registered 2,509,365
Turnout 81.59

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
New Zealand House of Representatives	2023-10-14	Held	2,884,111	3,480,698	82.86
New Zealand House of Representatives	2020-10-17	Held	2,919,073	3,549,580	82.24
Referendum	2020-10-17	Held	2,908,071	3,549,564	81.93
New Zealand House of Representatives	2017-09-23	Held	2,169,802	3,569,830	60.78
Referendum	2016-03-03	Held	2,124,507	3,158,576	67.26
Referendum	2015-12-15	Held	1,546,734	3,170,726	48.78
New Zealand House of Representatives	2014-09-20	Held	2,416,481	3,140,417	76.95
Referendum	2013-11-22	Held	1,368,925	3,037,405	45.07
Referendum	2011-11-26	Held	2,257,243	3,070,847	73.51
New Zealand House of Representatives	2011-11-26	Held	2,278,989	3,070,847	74.21
Referendum	2009-08-25	Held	1,684,402	3,002,968	56.09
New Zealand House of Representatives	2008-11-08	Held	2,376,480	2,990,759	79.46
New Zealand House of Representatives	2005-09-17	Held	2,286,190	2,822,148	81.01
New Zealand House of Representatives	2002-07-27	Held	2,040,248	2,670,030	76.41
New Zealand House of Representatives	1999-11-27	Held	2,047,473	2,509,365	81.59

Voter Turnout

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