2011 New Zealand General Election - Nov 26,2011

 New Zealand General Elections

General Elections in New Zealand  normally occur at least every 3 years.
Elections always take place on a Saturday, so as to minimise the effect of work or religious commitments that could inhibit people from voting.
New Zealand since 1996 has used the 'Mixed Memeber Proportional' (MMP) voting system, giving voters two votes: one for a political party and the other for their local electorate MP.
The voting process uses printed voting ballots, with voters marking their choices (one vote for a candidate and one vote for a party)
  
2011New Zealand General Elections

The 2011 New Zealand general election to take place on Saturday 26 November 2011 and will determine membership of the 50th Parliament of New Zealand.
120 MPs will be elected to the New Zealand "House of Representatives"(Parliament);70 from single-member electorates  throughout the country, and 50 from party lists.

544 individuals contest the election.Of those, 91 are list-only, 73 are electorate-only (43 from registered parties, 17 independents, and 13 from non-registered parties), and 380 are contesting both list and electorate.
13 registered parties had put forward a party list to the Commission to contest the party vote(19 in 2008)

New Zealand's Ruling National Party Wins General Election
The ruling 'National Party'polled 47.99% votes and  has won 41 Electorate Seats and 19 List Seats.
The 'Labour Party' polled 27.13 % votes and has won 22 Electorate Seats and 12List Seats.
The 'Green Party' polled 10.62% votes and has won 0 Electorate Seats and 13 List Seats.
PM John Key celebrates victory and a second term in office