Otago Uni expert warns against holding MMP and voting referendums together
University of Otago professor Andrew Geddis has criticized Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's suggestion to hold referendums on the MMP voting system and four-year parliamentary terms simultaneously. Geddis argues that the proposal lacks a clear constitutional basis and may be a reactionary move to current coalition tensions.
Why it matters
The debate touches on the stability of New Zealand's democratic processes and the potential for significant electoral reform.
An electoral law academic says if the Prime Minister is serious about having a referendum on New Zealand’s voting system, he should not do it at the same time as a referendum on a four-year term. On Thursday, Christopher Luxon told Newstalk ZB there should "definitely" be a referendum on a four-year term, and he was "open for saying we should send it back out to New Zealanders and say are they still supportive of MMP." Luxon said it was "quite right to check-in constitutionally" on whether the Mixed Member Proportional system was still what Kiwis wanted. The last referendum on the matter was in 2011, when 57.8 % of people voted to keep MMP. [Missing Credit]Prof Andrew Geddes.
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