New Zealand has used the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system for nearly 30 years. While delivering more proportional parliaments, MMP has developed some unique features and challenges over time. Could key reforms enhance MMP's fairness, effectiveness and efficiency?
Join Nick Clark, Senior Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative and author of our new report "MMP After 30 Years: Time for Electoral Reform?", for this webinar launching the report's findings. Nick will provide an overview of how MMP has evolved in New Zealand, compare it to MMP systems overseas, and outline a suite of recommended reforms spanning constitutional arrangements, electoral mechanisms, and voting processes.
Nick will be joined by David Farrar, prominent New Zealand political commentator, who will share his perspective on the proposed reforms and their implications for New Zealand's democracy.
Date: Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Time: 2:30pm
Please register for the webinar via this link. Also, submit your question in advance on Slido.com using code #1861878
About the speakers:
Nick Clark, Senior Fellow, The New Zealand Initiative
Nick is a Senior Fellow focusing on local government, resource management, and economic policy. He brings 30 years of policy experience, including 19 years at Federated Farmers as National Policy Manager. There, he led work on economic, fiscal, monetary, banking, competition, and overseas investment policies, and engaged extensively with local government policy issues.
David Farrar, Political Commentator, Curia Market Research
David Farrar is a political commentator, blogger and pollster. He owns the marked research company, Curia Market Research. David has experience working for the National Party in Ministerial Services and the Prime Minister's Officer, he has been a regular columnist for the National Business Review, Radio New Zealand, and Newstalk ZB.
Dr Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director, The New Zealand Initiative
Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. Oliver holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business administration and a PhD in Law from Bochum University in Germany.