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Tasks: The System of Government in New Zealand

This set of tasks is related to the resources 'The System of Government in New Zealand' and 'The General Election in New Zealand'.

Discuss

Work in groups.

  1. How does the mixed-member proportional system (MMP) ensure that more people are represented in Parliament?

  2. Between 1996 and 2020, New Zealand was ruled by coalition governments. Is it an advantage or disadvantage that several parties have to cooperate to decide how the country is run?

  3. In the United States, the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional. The supreme courts in Norway and New Zealand do not have this power. Do you think all supreme courts should be able to remove laws that the justices perceive to be unconstitutional?

  4. Why do people in New Zealand have two votes in the general election?

Compare

Compare the system of government in New Zealand with the system of government in another English-speaking country. Point out similarities and difference. Present your findings to the class.

Research

Choose one of the tasks. Present your findings in a group. End your presentation with a quiz about your topic.

Portrait of Jacinda Ardern. She is a woman in her thirties. She has long dark hair. She is smiling. She wears a formal, dark, jacket, and a blue blouse with a red floral pattern. The picture is cropped from a group photo.

  1. Pick one political issue that is important in New Zealand today. Find out more about the issue and explain what is being done to resolve the issue.

  2. Who is running New Zealand today? Present the government of New Zealand and explain the core ideology of the parties that are running the country.

  3. Jacinda Ardern served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2017 to 2023. During her time in office, she received widespread national and international praise for how she handled major internal security challenges. Find out more about the specific challenges she faced during her time in office.

  4. Does the MMP system ensure fair representation of the Māori? Are Māori issues dealt with fairly in New Zealand today?

  5. Are young people represented in New Zealand politics? What issues do young New Zealanders care about?

What do they have in common?

Three of the people on each slide have something in common. What is it?

Discuss with a partner or in a group.

You can see their names by placing your cursor on the picture. Look them up if you don't know who they are.

There may be more than one correct answer.

Related content

Written by Tone Hesjedal.
Last updated 05/26/2026

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