Manatū Taonga/Ministry for Culture and Heritage

4 November, 2011

Media advisory - Election Resources

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has compiled a list of useful resources for journalists in the lead up to this month’s general election.

The Ministry has a wealth of information available about New Zealand’s political and election history.

This includes extensive information on the 1993 MMP Referendum that provides background and context to this year’s referendum on changing the voting system.

The Ministry also has several experts on politics and political history available to provide information and comment about New Zealand general elections.

www.nzhistory.net.nz/category/tid/1664

Contains a comprehensive section about the history of New Zealand elections including:

• facts and figures of previous general elections, history dates, number of MPs, number of registered voters and official turnout

• MMP Referendum – includes information on the 1993 referendum that led to the introduction of the current mixed member proportional system of voting, the most dramatic change to New Zealand’s electoral system since women’s suffrage

• political and constitutional milestones in an easy-to-read timeline with links to more detailed information

• Māori and the vote, the development of a separate electoral system for Māori

• women and the vote, the suffrage campaign and a timeline of suffrage milestones

• election days, how the experience of voting has evolved from staggered elections over weeks or months to a single day

• voting methods, the switch from verbal voting to secret ballots, attempts to influence voters, election night drunken brawls

• electioneering, political advertising, campaigning, the role of radio and TV.

www.teara.govt.nz

Te Ara, the encyclopedia of New Zealand, has a range of election information in its New Zealand in Brief theme under Nation and government and History.

Information of relevance to elections can be found at http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/parliamentary-elections-and-parties It includes entries about:

• the electoral system
• Parliament
• Māori representation
• Labour Party
• National Party
• other political parties.

Further information on the electoral system, previous elections and results can also be found on www.elections.org.nz

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