Contestants and MPs

		2008	2005	2002
Number of electorate candidates nominated		486	597	593
Number of names on printed party lists		572	667	523
Number of parties contesting party vote		19	19	14
Number registered parties		21	21
Number candidates not from registered party		36
Total number candidates		682	739
Number candidates contesting	electorate and list	433
	list only	160
	electorate only	89
Highest number candidates in electorate	Wellington Central	14
Candidates male		488
Candidates female		194
Number of listed third parties at election day		25

	2008	2005	2002
Number of MPs	122	121	120
Number of General electorates	63	62	62
Number of Māori electorates	7	7	7
Number of List MPs	52	52	51
Number of MPs who are women	41	39	34
Number of MPs who are Māori	18	21	19
Number of MPs who are Pacific Islander	5	3	3
Number of MPs who are Asian	6	2	2
Number of MPs from previous parliament
defeated in election	20	21	18
retired	13	11	12
Number of new MPs	34	30