Election 2023: New Zealand Makes A Choice, Reluctantly

James K

James is a government policy analyst, and lives in Wellington, New Zealand. His interests including wargaming, computer gaming (especially RPGs and strategy games), Dungeons & Dragons and scepticism. No part of any of his posts or comments should be construed as the position of any part of the New Zealand government, or indeed any agency he may be associated with.

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3 Responses

  1. PD Shaw says:

    Interesting primer. In your last paragraph you mention possible collapse of the government. What form would that take? A no confidence vote, snap election?Report

    • James K in reply to PD Shaw says:

      If a government loses confidence of the House mid-term it would mean a snap election, unless the governemnt can make some kind of deal to get it back again (a deal like that actually happened in 1998). Parliamentary systems don’t tolerate the sorts of deadlocks that seem more common in your system.Report

      • PD Shaw in reply to James K says:

        I think at least one of the main issues with the U.S. Constitution is that it is hostile to political parties that it’s separation of powers need to govern. The last two Speakers of the House, one from each party, have to bargain with rather small factions by conceding powers that the office need. The absence of an election threat makes the parties too week if they don’t have significant majorities.Report