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Parliament name House of Representatives More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Unicameral Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1959 - LEADERSHIP President Trevor Mallard (M)  Notes Elected on 7 Nov. 2017. Secretary General David Wilson (M)  Notes 6 July 2015 - 5 July 2022 COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 120 / 120 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 46 (38.33%) Mode of designation directly elected 120 Term 3 years Last renewal dates 23 September 2017 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address House of Representatives Parliament House Wellington NEW ZEALAND (Export mailing lists) Phone (64 4) 817 99 99 Fax (64 4) 817 64 22 E-mail ipu@parliament.govt.nz parlinfo@parliament.govt.nz Website http://www.parliament.nz/

Parliament name House of Representatives Structure of parliament Unicameral LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 17 December 1993 Electoral Act 1993 (Last modified:16.05.2005) Mode of designation directly elected 120 Constituencies - 63 single-member general electoral districts - 7 single-member Maori electoral districts - a further 50 members are elected from party-lists Voting system Mixed: Mixed-member proportional system. Voters have two votes, known as a "party vote" and an "electorate vote". - simple majority vote for 63 members elected from single-member General electoral districts and for seven members elected from single-member Maori electoral districts - the remaining 50 members are elected from nationwide party lists, according to each party's share of all the party votes. A party must get at least five percent of all the party votes or win an electorate seat to get a share of the list seats in the House of Representatives. If a party does not have enough electorate members to reach the total number of members that it is entitled to according to its share of all the party votes, it "tops up" to its rightful number with list members. Under the New Zealand electoral system, seats are first allocated to candidates winning electorate seats. Parties will then get a share of seats in Parliament close to their share of "party votes". If parties win more electorate seats than their share of seats determined by the party vote then they can keep the extra seats, called "overhang seats". Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections (for electorate members) or by the next available candidate on the same party-list (for list members). Voting is not compulsory but enrolment is. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - New Zealand citizenship or a lawful permanent resident of New Zealand - continuous residence in the country for at least one year - continuous residence in electoral district for at least one month, or current residence therein - Maoris may register and vote either in the General electoral district in which they reside or in the appropriate Maori electoral district - disqualifications: citizens and permanent residents abroad who fail to meet certain residence requirements, various forms of insanity or mental disorder, conviction for corrupt electoral practices within the preceding three years, undergoing a prison sentence of three years or more CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - age: 18 years - New Zealand citizenship Incompatibilities - state servant (placed on leave of absence until after the election and, if elected, vacates office) Candidacy requirements Electorate candidates must: - be nominated by at least two electors registered in the electoral district for which the candidate seeks election - be nominated in the period between writ day and noon on nomination day - pay a deposit of NZ$300, reimbursed if the candidate wins five percent or more of all the electorate votes cast in the electoral district in which he or she stands for election List candidates must: - be on a list that is submitted by noon on the nomination day to the Chief Electoral Officer by a party registered by the Electoral Commission; no monetary deposit is required.

Parliament name House of Representatives Structure of parliament Unicameral BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 23 September 2017 Timing and scope of renewal No party took an outright majority in the 120-member Parliament. Prime Minister Bill English's National Party remained the largest party with 56 seats, losing four; while the Labour Party, led by Ms. Jacinda Ardern, increased its representation from 32 to 46 seats. On 24 October, the Labour Party and the New Zealand First party, led by former Foreign Minister Winston Peters, signed a coalition agreement under Ms. Ardern's leadership. The Green Party also entered into a confidence and supply agreement with the Labour Party. On 26 October, Ms. Ardern was officially sworn in as the new Prime Minister, becoming at 37 the country's youngest Prime Minister and the third woman to assume the post. The 2017 elections were the first to be held after the resignation in December 2016 of long-serving Prime Minister John Key, who had held the position since 2008. In August 2017, Ms. Ardern became Labour Party leader, following Mr. Andrew Little. During the election campaign, the major parties focused on climate change, regional development and poverty reduction. Date of previous elections: 20 September 2014 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 22 August 2017 Timing of election: Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: September 2020 Number of seats at stake: 120 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 534 (341 men, 190 women, 3 others*) *3 gender diverse/not specified. 366 candidates ran under both majority and proportional representation (PR) systems. In addition, 81 candidates ran only under the PR and 87 others stood only for the majority system. Percentage of women candidates: 35.6% Number of parties contesting the election: 26* *16 parties fielded candidates under the proportional representation system. In addition 10 more parties and independents ran under the majority system. Number of parties winning seats: 5 Alternation of power: Yes Number of parties in government: 2 Names of parties in government: Labour Party, New Zealand First party Date of the first session of the new parliament: 7 November 2017 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Trevor Mallard (Labour Party) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 23 September 2017 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 3'298'009 2'630'173 (79.75%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes National Party Labour Party New Zealand First Green Party ACT New Zealand Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Electorate seats List seats National Party 56 41 15 Labour Party 46 29 17 New Zealand First 9 0 9 Green Party 8 0 8 ACT New Zealand 1 0 1 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 74 46 38.33% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Sources: House of Representatives (25.10.2017) Electoral Commission (29.10.2017) http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/index.html http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/statistics/overall-results-summary.html http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/statistics/party-votes-and-turnout-by-electorate.html https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/?PrimaryFilter=Gender&SecondaryFilter=female http://www.elections.org.nz/news-media/party-and-candidate-lists-2017-election http://www.nzherald.co.nz https://www.theguardian.com

Parliament name House of Representatives Structure of parliament Unicameral APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the House of Representatives Term - duration: 3 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, disqualification from membership of the House, death Appointment - elected by all Members of the House, at the first sitting of a new Parliament - after Members' mandates are validated and after Members are sworn in Eligibility - any Member may be candidate Voting system - usually the Government candidate is elected unopposed; there is a formal vote when two or more candidates are proposed - if more than 2 candidates are proposed, Members vote from their seats in the Chamber and Members are asked to state which nominee they vote for, until only two candidates remain - absolute majority is required Procedures / results - the Clerk presides over the House during the voting - the Clerk supervises the voting - the Clerk announces the results without any delay - the election must be confirmed by the Governor-General who could refuse to do so; however, this has never occured STATUS Status - ranks third after the Governor-General; the Speaker does not act as Head of State - represents the House with the public authorities - is chairperson of the Parliamentary Services Commission - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy-Speaker can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities - salary equivalent to a Government Minister + expense allowance - official residence - additional staff FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments in certain circumstances - chairs Business Committee of the House of Representatives Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the House - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated - does not call for a vote, but verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House, according to precedents - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus can organize impromptu debate on a matter of urgent public importance Special powers - approves draft budget for Parliamentary Services and Office of the Clerk - is consulted concerning policy decisions relating to recruitment and promotion of staff - recommends appointment of the Clerk, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments, as ex officio president of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and IPU - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber, with the Serjeant-at-Arms Speaking and voting rights, other functions - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure

Parliament name House of Representatives Structure of parliament Unicameral NATURE Nature of the mandate · Free representation Start of the mandate · On the day after the day of the return (of the writ) (S. 54 of the Electoral Act) Validation of mandates · Validation by the High Court or the Court of Appeal only in case of challenge by election petitions (S. 229 of the Electoral Act) · Procedure (S. 229 to 246, 258 to 262 of the Electoral Act, Election Petition Rules) End of the mandate · On the day of new elections (S. 54 of the Electoral Act) (for early dissolution, see Art. 18 (2) to (4) of the Constitution Act of 1986, as amended up to and including 1987). For the Speaker, see Art. 13 of the Constitution Act. Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will · Procedure: in writing addressed to the Speaker Can MPs lose their mandate ? No STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy · Outside Parliament: the official order of precedence ranks the Speaker in the 3rd position, the Leader of the Opposition in the 8th position, and the other MPs in the 10th position. Indemnities, facilities and services · Official passport · Basic salary: NZD 6,666 to 12,540 per month + Basic Expense Allowance: NZD 7,000 to 12,000 per year + Additional Allowance (for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Assistant Speakers, Deputy Leaders): NZD 1,000 to 8,500 per year + Constituency Allowance (for constituency MPs): NZD 8,000 to 20,000 per year · Exemption from tax · No special pension scheme for new MPs · Other facilities: (a) Secretariat/assistants (see also the Parliamentary Service Act and the Clerk of the House of Representatives Act): secretarial, research, and office assistance (b) Official housing: Wellington Accommodation Allowance; House and Grounds Maintenance Allowance for the Speaker, House and Grounds Maintenance Allowance and House Allowance for the Leader of the Opposition (alternatively Day and Night Allowances when on business in Wellington) (c) Postal and telephone services (d) Travel and transport: Travelling Allowance + Day and Night Allowances, car reimbursement (e) Others: allowance for purchase of motor vehicle Obligation to declare personal assets Yes Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist · Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament. · Derogations: offence or insult (SO 117 to 120 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, see Discipline), sub judice matters (SO 115 and 116 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) · Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does not exist. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. · It is provided by parliamentary officials and party groups. Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings (SO 36 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives). For leave of absence, see SO 37 to 38 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives. · Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (SO 384 to 392, and 394 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in SO 50, 82 (1), 87 to 94, 110 (2), 117 to 120, 384, 385 (1) and (2), 386 to 393, and 395 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives. · Disciplinary measures foreseen: - Order to terminate the speech (SO 110 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Order to withdraw (SO 87 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Naming and suspension (SO 88 to 93 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Adjournment of the House, suspension of the sitting (SO 50 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) · Specific cases: - Offence or insult (SO 117 to 120 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives): intervention by the Speaker - Contempt of the House in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House (SO 94, 392, 393, and 395 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives): · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (SO 82 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives): - Order to terminate the speech, order to withdraw, adjournment of the House, suspension of the sitting, offence or insult: the Speaker - Naming: the Speaker, the House of Representatives - Suspension, contempt of the House in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House: the House of Representatives · Procedure: - Order to terminate the speech (SO 110 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Order to withdraw (SO 87 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Naming and suspension (SO 88 to 93 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Adjournment of the House, suspension of the sitting (SO 50 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Offence or insult (SO 119 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Contempt of the House in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House (SO 94, 384, 385 (1) and (2), 386 to 393, and 395 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system. Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 6 July 2018
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