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New Zealand functions as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government closely patterned on that of the United Kingdom. Under the New Zealand Royal Titles Act of 1953, Queen Elizabeth II reigns as Queen of New Zealand and functions as the head of state. The Governor General represents the Queen locally: Dame Silvia Cartwright fills this role (as of 2004). Although both main political parties, when in government, have raised the issue of New Zealand becoming a republic within the Commonwealth, the New Zealand public has shown much less support for such constitutional change than has emerged in neighbouring Australia. However, proposals are being put forward to remove references to the Queen from oaths of allegiance.
New Zealand has no formal, written constitution; the constitutional framework consists of various documents, including certain acts of the United Kingdom and New Zealand Parliaments. Most constitutional provisions became consolidated into the Constitution Act 1986.
The Cabinet, which is responsible to Parliament, exercises executive authority. (The Cabinet forms the practical expression of a formal body known as the Executive Council.) The Prime Minister, as the leader of the political party or coalition of parties holding the majority of seats in the House of Representatives, leads the Cabinet. All Cabinet Ministers must be Members of Parliament (MPs) and are collectively responsible to it.
New Zealand has a unicameral Parliament, the 120-seat House of Representatives. Since 1996, New Zealand has used the mixed member proportional (MMP) system, under which MPs are either elected by voters in single-member constituencies or are appointed from party lists. Several seats are currently reserved for members elected on a separate Maori roll. However, Maori may choose to vote in and to run for the non-reserved seats, and several have entered Parliament in this way. Parliaments have a maximum term of three years, although elections can be called more frequently. In New Zealand, everyone (male and female) over the age of 18 years can vote, women having gained the vote in 1893.
Elections last took place on 27 July 2002 (the next General Election must be called by July 2005). In 2002 the Labour Party and the Progessive Coalition joined in forming the government coalition; the United Future party undertook to support the government on essential matters. The National Party remained the official Opposition.
The judiciary consists of the Court of Appeals, the High Court, and the District Courts. New Zealand law has three principal sources - English common law, certain statutes of the United Kingdom Parliament enacted before 1947, and statutes of the New Zealand Parliament. In interpreting common law, the courts have endeavoured to preserve uniformity with common law as interpreted in the United Kingdom. The maintenance of the Privy Council in London as the final court of appeal and judges' practice of following British decisions, even though, technically, they are not bound by them, both bolstered this uniformity. However, in October 2003, the House of Representatives passed legislation to end this right of appeal from 2004, and to establish the Supreme Court of New Zealand in Wellington, which will begin hearings in July 2004.
New Zealand is divided into 12 regions, which have either a regional council or a unitary authority. Regional council areas subdivide into territorial authority areas, each with either a city council or a district council to administer it.
Local government in New Zealand has only the powers conferred upon it by parliament. Regional councils are directly elected, set their own tax (rating) rates, and have a chairman elected by their members. Regional council duties include environmental management, regional aspects of civil defence, and transportation planning.
The 74 territorial authorities -- 16 city councils, 57 district councils in rural areas, and one council for the Chatham Islands -- are directly elected, raise local taxes at rates they themselves set, and are headed by popularly-elected mayors. The territorial authorities may delegate powers to local community boards. These boards, instituted at the behest either local citizens or territorial authorities, advocate community views but cannot levy taxes, appoint staff, or own property.
For a listing of registered parties, see Political parties in New Zealand
The conservative National Party and the left-leaning Labour Party have dominated New Zealand political life since a Labour government came to power in 1935. During 14 years in office (1935 - 1949), the Labour Party implemented a broad array of social and economic legislation, including comprehensive social security, a large scale public works programme, a 40-hour working week, a minimum basic wage, and compulsory unionism. The National Party won control of the government in 1949 and adopted many welfare measures instituted by the Labour Party. Except for two brief periods of Labour governments in 1957 - 1960 and 1972 - 1975, National held power until 1984.
After regaining control in 1984, the Labour government instituted a series of radical market-oriented reforms in response to New Zealand's mounting external debt. It also enacted anti-nuclear legislation that effectively brought about New Zealand's suspension from the ANZUS security alliance with the United States of America and Australia.
In October 1990, the National Party again formed a government, for the first of three 3-year terms. In 1996, New Zealand inaugurated the new electoral system, Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) to elect its Parliament. The system was expected (among numerous other goals) to increase representation of smaller parties in Parliament and appears to have done so in the MMP elections to date. Since 1996, neither National nor Labour has had an absolute majority in Parliament, and for all but one of those years a minority government has ruled.
After 9 years in office, the National Party lost the November 1999 election. Labour under Helen Clark outpolled National by 39% to 30% and formed a coalition, minority government with the left-wing Alliance. The government often relied on support from the Green Party to pass legislation.
The Labour Party retained power in the 27 July 2002 election, forming a coalition with Jim Anderton's new party, the Progressive Coalition, and reaching an agreement for support with the United Future party. Helen Clark remained prime minister.
| New Zealand elections and parties |
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Election | List of election results | List of political parties in the Pacific |
Politics of New Zealand | Political parties 1853 | 1855 | 1860 | 1866 | 1871 | 1875 | 1879 | 1881 | 1884 | 1887 | 1890 | 1893 | 1896 | 1899 | 1902 | 1905 | 1908 | 1911 | 1914 | 1919 | 1922 | 1925 | 1928 | 1931 |
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