Start with nine questions about government and elections
A plain-language guide to MMP, the two votes, government, opposition, Parliament, courts and select committees.
Key dates for the 2026 general election
Election day is 7 November 2026, and early voting starts on 26 October.
- Overseas voting starts on 21 October 2026.
- The early voting period runs until 6 November.
- On election day, voting places are usually open from 9am to 7pm.
- Dates and voting arrangements can be updated officially, so check Vote NZ again before you vote.
MMP and the two votes
MMP stands for mixed member proportional representation. At a general election you usually have one party vote and one electorate vote.
- The party vote usually determines the overall share of seats a party should hold in Parliament.
- The electorate vote decides who represents your local electorate.
- A party generally needs at least 5% of the nationwide party vote, or to win at least one electorate seat, to qualify for a proportional share of seats.
- This means you can give your party vote and your electorate vote to candidates from different parties.
What is a Member of Parliament?
A Member of Parliament, usually shortened to MP, represents voters in the House of Representatives, considers legislation and scrutinises the government.
- Electorate MPs are elected directly by the local electorate vote and represent a geographic electorate or a Māori electorate.
- List MPs come from the party vote, and are used to bring each party's total number of seats roughly into line with its share of the nationwide party vote.
- Both kinds of MP have the same voting power in Parliament.
- Ministers are usually MPs as well, but not every MP is a minister.
What is the difference between the government, Cabinet and ministers?
The government is the party or coalition that holds the confidence of Parliament and is responsible for executive work. Cabinet is the central body where senior ministers make decisions collectively.
- The Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General and is usually the leader of the party or coalition that can command majority support in the House of Representatives.
- Ministers are responsible for specific areas, such as finance, education, health and immigration.
- Cabinet makes major policy decisions and follows the principle of collective responsibility.
- Most bills the government introduces still have to pass through Parliament before they become law.
How do the governing parties, the opposition and Parliament relate to each other?
Parliament includes both governing party MPs and opposition MPs. The government is responsible for executive work, but it still needs Parliament to pass laws and approve spending, and it remains subject to scrutiny.
- The governing party or coalition is made up of the parties that can hold the confidence of the House of Representatives and form a government.
- Opposition parties are not part of the government, and examine government decisions through questions, debate and select committees.
- Parliament is not another name for the government. Both governing party MPs and opposition MPs serve in Parliament.
- Opposition MPs also sit on select committees, which examine bills, budgets and the work of government agencies.
Does New Zealand have a Senate?
No. New Zealand's Parliament is unicameral. It has only the House of Representatives, with no Senate or other upper house.
- The Senate you hear about in some countries is usually an upper house, and that layer does not exist in New Zealand's current parliamentary structure.
- All Members of Parliament serve in the same House of Representatives.
- Bills usually go through several readings and select committee consideration, but they do not then have to be passed by an upper house.
What kind of political system does New Zealand have?
New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. A government must hold the confidence of Parliament in order to govern.
- The head of state is the King of New Zealand, and day-to-day constitutional functions are usually carried out by the Governor-General as the King's representative.
- The Prime Minister and ministers make up the executive government, which proposes policy and runs the public sector.
- Parliament makes the law, approves government spending and scrutinises the executive government.
- Constitutional rules are spread across statutes, court decisions, conventions and several constitutional documents, rather than being set out in a single written constitution.
What is a select committee?
A select committee is a group of MPs from different parties that examines bills, government agencies and public issues in detail.
- Many bills are referred to a select committee after their first reading in Parliament.
- The public can usually make a written submission, and some submitters are invited to speak in person.
- Committees can recommend changes to a bill, and they also examine budgets, annual reports and the work of government.
- This is an important way for ordinary residents to take part directly in the law-making process.
How do the courts and Parliament relate to each other?
The courts independently interpret and apply the law, and hear criminal, civil and public law cases. They are not a department directed by the governing parties.
- The court system includes the District Court, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, along with a number of specialist courts and tribunals.
- Parliament makes the law, and the courts interpret it in individual cases.
- New Zealand does not have the full constitutional review system found in some countries, where courts can generally strike down Acts of Parliament, but the courts can review whether executive decisions are lawful.
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