MMP Is Delivering, So Can STV

The Mixed Member Proportional representation electoral system is working very well at the moment which suggests people should feel confident that STV could also work in New Zealand, says Grant Gillon, Progressive Local Government Spokesperson.

"Prior to the introduction of MMP, its critics said it would lead to political stalemate with nothing getting done because no party would have a Parliamentary majority and minor parties would play endless political games and point-scoring at the expense of good law-making.

"That is not what is happening. As time passes, parties are in fact increasingly adopting a cooperative stance to participating in lawmaking," Grant Gillon said.

"Of the 27 contested laws that have been enacted since the July general election, 23 have secured the support of more than one non-governing party even though Labour-Progressive legislation in fact only requires one non-government party's support to be successful," Grant Gillon said.

And the trend toward greater democratic participation by parties outside of government appears to be growing over time.

Of the eleven contested coalition government laws enacted since the start of this year, all eleven secured the support of more than one Opposition party.

New Zealanders in some parts of the country will be asked to consider whether to replace First Past The Post with the more representative STV electoral system.

Voters can take comfort from the fact that at a central government level political parties are increasingly acting responsibly and constructively instead of playing endless political games, Grant Gillon said.

"If politicians at a central level can do this, then there is good reason to hope that the same can happen at a local level," he added.

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