Fact & stats
- ARTICLES
NZ electoral facts & stats 2008
This is an online version of the pocket flip booklet published in Feb '09 continuing the series of post-election compendiums published by the Electoral Commission since the first MMP election in 1996. It gives a one-stop overview of New Zealand's electoral framework and key data from Election '08. Read more »
Key facts, history highlights, NZ's democracy
Bullet-point summary of NZ's democracy, key dates of electoral reform, and a longer description of NZ's democratic framework. Read more »
Enrolling to vote
Introduces the franchise in New Zealand, how electoral rolls are maintained and made available, and how electors can enrol, check or update their details. Read more »
Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system
Outlines New Zealand proportional electoral system in which members of Parliament are elected either to an electorate seat or off a party list to fill a party's quota of seats. Read more »
The election
Processes for voting, counting, challenging results, and filling vacancies between elections are introduced. Read more »
System elements
Electoral law; political parties; party logos; electorates; candidates; third parties (2008); St Lague formula; campaigning, election expenses and disclosure; and donations disclosure are key elements of New Zealand's electoral system. Read more »
2008 election key statistics
Topline data regarding party vote by party, numbers of MPs by party, election date, total votes cast, turnout, enrolment, split voting, informal votes, government type, last legal date for next election. Read more »
Enrolment and turnout
Enrolment and turnout statistics for three elections: roll numbers by type, overseas mailing address, age group, average electorate roll, average electorate electoral population; turnout as % of roll and age eligible, turnout highs and lows by electorate type. Read more »
Voting
For three elections: number of polling places; overseas, advance and special votes; votes for parties not elected, informal votes; stats relating to allocation of last list seat. Read more »
Party vote and split voting
Party vote % for all contesting parties in '08. Split voting data for parliamentary parties for '08 and '05. Read more »
Contestants and MPs
Contestant and MP related data for three elections: electorate and list nominations, candidate profiles, number of parties and third parties; MP numbers, by electorate type, gender, ethnicity, returned from previous parliament, defeated, retired, new. Read more »
By electorate - turnout, profile data, extremes
Turnout as % enrolled, % point change from '05. Profile data including ethnicity, age, income and source, residential stability, population density, overseas born. Electorate extremes in turnout, overseas votes, party vote, electorate vote and margin. Read more »
By electorate - party vote and electorate vote data
Party vote: highest party; its % of vote; % point change from '05. Electorate vote: party of MP; MP's name, whether in previous parliament, % of vote, margin as votes and % point difference, margin change since '05. Read more »
List MPs (and next on list) by party
MPs elected off their party's list are named, along with candidates next on the list who might fill any list vacancy before the next general election. Read more »
MMP elections key dates and data
Key dates in the electoral cycle, number of parties elected, government make-up, prime minister, largest opposition party and leader are given for NZ's MMP elections (from 1996 on). Read more »