-
Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
MMP looks like it is here to stay according to the latest poll on NZ's electoral system.
A referendum on MMP is two years away but the ONE News Colmar Brunton poll shows it is already the clear favourite with more than half wanting to keep it.
Only a third of respondents don't want to retain MMP and the rest don't know.
New Zealand has used MMP for five elections and it has grown in popularity since ONE News asked the same question last year.
This year 54% said we should keep MMP compared to 47% in 2008, while last year 43% said we should ditch it and that has dropped to just 36%.
But political scientist Nigel Roberts says these polls partly reflect the popularity of the government of the day.
Critics of MMP say it gives smaller parties too much power but one of those parties says it's the fairest system.
Green Party co-leader Russell Norman says MMP has shown that it works. "We've got better representation of Maori and women in parliament, we've got a system where the majority actually choses the government instead of the minority."
New Zealand is set to vote on the issue in the 2011 election and it will be binding. If a majority of voters opt to dump MMP, there will be a second referendum at the 2014 general election to decide the alternative voting system - a contest between MMP and the alternative voting system that receives the most votes in the first referendum.
The latest poll also asked people to rank which voting system they would prefer, with 39% ticking MMP; 33% choosing First Past The Post (the system we had before 1996) and 12% wanting Single Transferable Vote where candidates are ranked in order of preference.
"People remember what First Past The Post is and that's why ironically not a lot of people are talking about it as a potential replacement. but why it comes second," says Roberts.
Are you happy with MMP or will you be looking for a change? Have your say on our messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentaxtrics1 said on 2010-02-16 @ 23:31 NZDT: Report abusive post
John Key's what a DICTATOR. No matter what the NZ people decide he is going to change MMP. What a waste of money just like the No Smacking. A lot of New Zealanders ask for it to be changed & he said no. A lot of New Zealanders Complained about the changers to ACC & he still went ahead with it. WHEN is he going to lesson to the people who put him in office????? He WON'T be in power next year because he keeps taking more money off us that we don't have. John Key's time for relatively check.
jimmy12 said on 2009-10-21 @ 11:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
Cummon guys people are alowed to have different viewpoints and MMP is a whole lot better than anything else at achieving that. Remember back in the day when 20 odd percent of the country voted for social credit and they got all of a couple of seats. Remember how the anti-MMP campaign was funded by the rich guys who want nothing more than being able to get obedient politicians, ready to privitize everything. Everybody needs to watch the Vote or Die eppisode of South Park
SEVE said on 2009-10-21 @ 08:44 NZDT: Report abusive post
More millions of our taxes `flushed' down the drain for nothing!! If there was one change I would make is abolish the Maori Party as its the only Party that is `Race' based therefore is racist because its all about Maori this and Maori that. Also abolish the anti smacking bill and bring back corporal punishment in schools as that is where all the problems START. NZ is to soft and PC and will NEVER change unless we get tough!
leistrella said on 2009-09-07 @ 22:48 NZDT: Report abusive post
The Government wants to cut costs - easy - just reduce the number of politicians!! We don't need the huge number we have, with their huge expenses. It should be just one vote for your local MP and that's it!!! i.e. no Party vote.
leistrella said on 2009-09-07 @ 22:43 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think we should get rid of MMP. We've tried it and in my view it is not working - the minor coalition parties, seem to be able to hold the Government to ransom and have far more power than people voted for them.