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Increasing diversity in parliament: what can we learn from New Zealand?

The lessons from New Zealand's mixed member proportional (MMP) representation system in terms of the UK's proposed Alternative Vote are varied.

The lessons from New Zealand's mixed member proportional (MMP) representation system in terms of the UK's proposed Alternative Vote are varied. But there is much about the country's experience that the UK could reflect upon.

On 13 Jan, Professor Margaret Wilson spoke at the Institute on New Zealand's experience of proportional representation and the impact on the diversity of their parliament, joined by Trevor Phillips, Baroness Parminter and Lord Adonis. New Zealand’s experience particularly resonates. According to Prof Wilson, the acute "sense of unfairness combined with a loss of confidence in Parliament and politicians generally" helped provoke the initial change to the country’s electoral system.

The impact of MMP on diversity in New Zealand’s Parliament

New Zealand adopted mixed member proportional representation in 1996 following a referendum. The system (also used for the devolved legislatures in Cardiff and Edinburgh) allowed a number of candidates to be chosen from party lists based on the overall share of the vote, in addition to traditional constituency MPs. MMP saw parties increasingly develop list candidates who reflected greater diversity:

  • indigenous Maori representation increased from 5-7% to 16% (reflecting 18% of the population)
  • for other self-identified ethnicities there was a similar move to near parity with overall population figures
  • the number of women in parliament doubled to 34% (however, this compared to 51% of the population).

It was not merely MMP but rather the impact of the selection of candidates that was crucial. Political parties were encouraged to adopt “selection practices that consciously select diverse candidates”.

Other factors

Prof Wilson made clear that other factors had had an impact on the current diversity of the NZ Parliament. The country's history - the legacy of 19th Century struggle for representation, early adoption of universal suffrage and a perceived move away from class-based party politics - has also helped. At the same time, cultural trends towards diversity, political engagement and a "flexible pragmatic approach to governance issues" also played their part.

Diversity in background and experience

As important as ethnicity and gender were issues of background and experience. The list system (as some argue in terms of House of Lords appointees) enabled representation by people who might otherwise not attract constituency support – or who might have been put off entering politics. What of the supposed “rise of the career politician?” There is an apparent contrast between the UK and NZ in terms of the perceived role, background, and weight of expectations upon parliamentarians. The nature of the job as an MP, the hours and impact on wider family and other commitments all help influence the kinds of people who seek to be an MP. Some issues go far beyond the scope of electoral change. New Zealand’s democratic experiments may be far more adventurous than the Alternative Vote proposals currently facing this country. But the potential changes to the status quo (also represented in House of Lords reform, fixed term parliaments or the knock-on effects of the experience of coalition government) suggests the UK may need to get used to having these debates.

Publisher
Institute for Government

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