The 1999 New Zealand MP reduction referendum was held during the 1999 general election on 27 November 1999. The Referendum considered two questions, in which one brought upon the question on whether New Zealand Parliament should be restructured - reducing the number of MPs from 120 to 99 members in the House of Representatives.
The 1999 referendum resulted in a favourable vote with 81% of voters in favour of the referendum, with a total voter turnout of 83%. However, since it was a Citizens Initiated Referendum (CIR), its result was non-binding.
Background
The 1999 Referendum was held on the 27 November 1999 in the 1999 general election of New Zealand, accompanied by another referendum question. The 1999 General Election saw the governing National Party and Prime Minister Jenny Shipley defeated by the Labour Party and leader Helen Clark, making the fifth Labour Government in New Zealand.
In 1996, New Zealand officially implemented a Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system in its government with the first MMP election held on 12 October 1996. The MMP system allows a citizen with two votes - one party vote and one electorate vote, in which 120 MP seats are awarded. Where the Referendum's question regarded whether the construction of the political landscape should reduce to 99 MPs, thereby affecting the MMP system of New Zealand.
The MMP system led to the development of a CIR system implemented in 1994, following the passing of the Citizens Initiated Referenda Bill in 1992. The CIR system requires a minimum of 10% of eligible voters to be in favour of implementing a CIR during a general election, in which the CIR system was accepted to be the form of referenda for the 1999 Referendum. The CIR allows electors to resolve political issues that cannot be resolved within parliament, allowing citizens to vote in a general election, argued to assist to increase voter turnout.
1999 New Zealand Parliament Formation
The 1999 Election that held the MP Reduction referendum included the election for New Zealand's 46th Parliament.
Coalition-government
The 1999 Election led to a coalition government under the MMP system, in which the leading party-coalition was constructed of the Labour Party and the Alliance Party with the assistance of seats of the Greens Party. The coalition-government sat in parliament until the 2002 General Election, as limited to the 3 year terms outlined in the New Zealand Constitution.
1999 Elected Prime Minister of New Zealand
Labour leader Helen Clark became the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand. Helen Clark was the second female Prime Minister of New Zealand and the first elected, following Jenny Shipley as the first female Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999. The 1999 Election saw two female party leaders, resulting in a guaranteed female Prime Minister of New Zealand, despite the political party associated with the individual.
The result of the 1999 General Election led to three renewals of the Labour-Alliance Coalition, seeing Helen Clark to continue her leadership through a total of three terms. The 1999 General Election enabled Prime Minister Clark to lead New Zealand from 1999 to 2008. Helen Clark stepped down in 2008 and retired completely from New Zealand Parliament in 2009.
Previous New Zealand Prime Minister
Nationals leader Jenny Shipley was the 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand. Jenny Shipley was the first female New Zealand Prime Minister who sat in leadership from 1997 to 1999. Although, Jenny Shipley obtained her parliamentary seat and leadership through the loss of confidence vote and therefore resignation of Jim Bolger. Prime Minister Shipley was elected by the Nationals Party and came to be the first female Nationals Leader, although the challenge to leadership was unopposed.
Shipley's role as Prime Minister came to an end in the 1999 General Election in which her opposition, Helen Clark commenced her 9-year-long party leadership. This election result saw Jenny Shipley remain as opposition leader until 2001, retiring from New Zealand Parliament in 2002.
Results of the 1999 General Election
The 1999 Election saw a majority to Labour Party winning 49 seats and the Alliance Party winning 10 seats and the Greens Party with 7 seats. Resulting in a coalition-parliament of an overall 66 seats, a majority in comparison to the opposition's total of 54 seats in a 120-seat parliament. The Labour-Alliance coalition retained all six mandatory Maori parliamentary seats.