How does new zealand government work

Our system of government is a representative democracy. Each voter has a say in who represents them in Parliament and in local government. New Zealanders over the age of 18 can vote in general elections, local elections and referendums.

Am I eligible to vote? Voting is not compulsory, but it does give you a voice in our democracy. Everyone who is enrolled to vote is also eligible to be a candidate for election as a member of Parliament MP. In a representative democracy, you vote for the people you want to represent you on issues that matter to you.

Our fact sheets cover a range of subjects about Parliament in detail that you may not have found elsewhere on the website. In this section you'll find the procedural guides for Parliament. Parliament has its own language and terminology.

This glossary lists the terms and explains what they mean. Got questions? Need more information? We are happy to answer your questions about Parliament and get you more information when you need it. Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand is a comprehensive guide to the rules, practices and procedures of our Parliament.

Search Advanced Search Search. Search Search. The party with the most votes usually needs to form a coalition or agreement with another party or parties. MMP voting system. This means government can only be made up of Ministers who are first elected members of the House of Representatives. The government can only stay in power while it has a majority of members in the House of Representatives. This is known as having the confidence of the House.

Our system of government. The system of government works by having 3 separate branches of government. This is the House of Representatives where all the MPs sit and it includes select committees.

The role of the Legislature is to make laws legislation , and to scrutinise the Executive. The Executive consists of Ministers both inside and outside Cabinet and Government departments. The role of the Executive is to decide policy, propose laws which must be approved by the Legislature and administer the law.

The Judiciary consists of all judges. The role of the judiciary is to interpret and apply the law. The common law has been developed by judges over the centuries, and may be altered by the courts to meet changing circumstances.