The Green Party has strongly criticised National leader Christopher Luxon’s commitment to holding a referendum on New Zealand’s electoral system, arguing it is an attempt to weaken proportional representation and restore what it calls “old, tired, establishment politics.”
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says New Zealanders have already made their views clear on the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system and should not be asked to revisit the issue.
“National are trying to limit voters’ choices for an opportunistic, self-serving power grab,” Davidson said.
The comments follow Luxon’s commitment to hold a referendum on whether New Zealand should continue using MMP if National is returned to government.
Davidson suggested that if Luxon was frustrated by governing alongside coalition partners, there were simpler options available.
“If Luxon’s so tired of working with Winston Peters, there’s an easier way than overhauling our entire electoral system: sack him from Cabinet and bring forward the election.”
MMP was introduced following a nationwide referendum in 1993, replacing the First Past the Post electoral system, and was reaffirmed by voters in a second referendum in 2011.
Davidson said those two public votes should settle the issue.
“New Zealanders have consistently voted to keep MMP. They voted for MMP in 1993 and voted again to keep it in 2011. We don’t need another vote to tell us New Zealanders want a proportional voting system.”
She also questioned whether a new referendum represented good value for taxpayers.
“This would be a waste of time and a waste of tax dollars that should instead be used to improve our social services and New Zealanders’ quality of life.”
Davidson said the Government’s priority should instead be addressing unemployment and the cost-of-living crisis.
“Luxon should be putting his energy into a plan for the 171,000 people out of work.”
The Greens argue MMP has created a Parliament that more accurately reflects the diversity of New Zealand voters by allowing smaller parties to win representation proportional to their share of the vote.
Davidson pointed to recent polling showing National and Labour together accounting for around 63 percent of voter support, saying that demonstrated New Zealanders were increasingly looking beyond the two major parties.
“New Zealanders want change. They’re increasingly tired of the legacy political parties, and they want a plurality of voices in our Parliament.”
While defending MMP, Davidson acknowledged there was room to improve the electoral system.
She said many practical reforms had already been identified through the Independent Electoral Review, but claimed those recommendations had been rejected by the Government.
“There are certainly some tweaks to be made, many of which were outlined in the Independent Electoral Review that National rejected.”
Davidson said proportional representation remains the best way to ensure every vote counts.
“The Green Party firmly support retaining MMP. New Zealanders deserve to have a Parliament that represents them, and only proportional representation ensures that every vote is represented in our democracy.”
The debate over New Zealand’s electoral system is expected to become a significant issue in the lead-up to the general election, with supporters of MMP arguing it delivers fairer representation, while critics contend it can produce unstable coalition governments and give smaller parties disproportionate influence.
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