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John Key - Source: ONE News -
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National Leader John Key says he's going to vote against MMP in the referendum.
Key declared his hand on TV ONE's Breakfast this morning, saying he's going to vote "no" to MMP and "yes" to Supplementary Member (SM).
The referendum on the voting system will be held with the November 26 election.
Key said he quite likes the proportional nature of MMP and SM.
"And the reason I like that kind of model is that you do get greater gender balance in Parliament. You certainly get greater ethnic diversity and that I think has made Parliament more representative. But Supplementary Member's just slightly less volatile than MMP."
Key said he not the "hugest fan" of First Past the Post.
"I mean it hasn't really helped David Cameron in the UK either."
The latest ONE News Colmar-Brunton poll showed MMP as a clear favourite.
Respondents showed strong support for the status quo with just over half of voters (51%) saying they would keep MMP.
While 12% said they didn't know, 37% wanted change.
The referendum on voting system will ask two questions: The first asks whether voters want to keep MMP or whether they want to change to another voting system. The second asks which of four other voting systems would voters choose if New Zealand decides to change from MMP.
There are four options:
- First Past the Post - the system used in New Zealand before 1996.
- Preferential Voting - where candidates are ranked.
- Single Transferable Vote - which means you can either rank candidates or chose your favourite party and accept their candidate rankings.
- Supplementary Member, where you get two votes, one for your local MP and another for a party.
The Colmar-Brunton poll showed First Past the Post was the next most popular system after MMP with 36%, followed by 16% for Single Transferable Vote, while Preferential Voting and Supplementary Member received only single figure support at 8% and 7%.
However, 30% of voters did not know.
If a majority of voters opt to keep MMP, there will be a review of MMP by the Electoral Commission next year.