As well as voting in this year’s election the public will also be asked in a referendum whether they want to change the electoral system. Together we have to ensure that our friends, whanau, and workmates reject the anti-worker agenda and retain the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system.

MMP is a fairer system, but how? Up until 1993 New Zealand had a First-Past-the-Post (FPP) system.

Three main problems with this system are:


1) it reinforces a two-party system and the rule of National or Labour, squashing other political voices

2) it results in parties that win less votes nationally coming into government, and

3) it means that the government’s cabinet will definitely consist solely of one party, which makes that party more able to pass legislation that is not supported by voters and has less scrutiny in parliament.


The right-wing and those who are most against the interests of working people have begun their campaign to get rid of MMP and get New Zealand back to the old FPP voting system. FPP only rewards the big parties to the exclusion of the interests of working people and the interests of other oppressed sections of society. Defending MMP provides a good opportunity for union members to work together on a political issue.


For more information:

Campaign for MMP

Official MMP referendum information

Enrol by October 26th to make voting on November 26th as easy as possible.


Authorised by Mike Treen, Unite Union, 6A Western Springs Road, Morningside