But in a debate with Jim Bolger, David Lange promised that he would look to hold a vote on it if returned to power.
Sort of like David Cameron promised, under pressure, to have a vote on Brexit, never assuming in his wildest dreams that people would actually vote to leave Europe.
But reform it we did and here we are 10 elections later still wondering if it was all it was cracked up to be.
The greatest lesson is that there is no perfect electoral system.
The last Labour Government, with their First Past the Post numbers, surely nailed the coffin shut on any form of debate around resurrecting FPP.
If you wanted a show of a tin ear and blind arrogance and all that is weak about the old system, the Labour Government of 2020 to 2023 was it. But in this election alone we have several of the MMP frailties on show.
There will be an overhang, both from the Māori seats and an overhang from Port Waikato, based on a rule very few knew even existed, far less how bizarre it was. And, once again, a minor player may or may not have an outsider role when it comes to participating in the Government.
What both systems have managed to throw up is the frailty of democracy itself. Not that having a one person, one vote system is bad. But the outworkings can be.
From the very minor parties who literally wasted their time and money to drum up a percent or two's worth of support to no end whatsoever, to the ongoing confusion among so many three decades on as to just how the system works and the belief that a level of manipulation and control is available with your two votes, when nothing of the sort exists at all.
As I have said before, I honestly can't remember how I voted in 1983 when we held that binding referendum. It would have been my first vote, given I had just turned 18, but what I do remember is, like most elections, many turned up without a real clue as to just what it was they were voting for. As a result, a certain level of surprise and disappointment ensued.
But at 30 it's too late. We won't change it, we won't revisit it, we had a crack and it went nowhere.
It is what it is. But that’s the point - what is it?
I'd say it's something OK, without being anywhere close to great.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
But reform it we did and here we are 10 elections later still wondering if it was all it was cracked up to be.
The greatest lesson is that there is no perfect electoral system.
The last Labour Government, with their First Past the Post numbers, surely nailed the coffin shut on any form of debate around resurrecting FPP.
If you wanted a show of a tin ear and blind arrogance and all that is weak about the old system, the Labour Government of 2020 to 2023 was it. But in this election alone we have several of the MMP frailties on show.
There will be an overhang, both from the Māori seats and an overhang from Port Waikato, based on a rule very few knew even existed, far less how bizarre it was. And, once again, a minor player may or may not have an outsider role when it comes to participating in the Government.
What both systems have managed to throw up is the frailty of democracy itself. Not that having a one person, one vote system is bad. But the outworkings can be.
From the very minor parties who literally wasted their time and money to drum up a percent or two's worth of support to no end whatsoever, to the ongoing confusion among so many three decades on as to just how the system works and the belief that a level of manipulation and control is available with your two votes, when nothing of the sort exists at all.
As I have said before, I honestly can't remember how I voted in 1983 when we held that binding referendum. It would have been my first vote, given I had just turned 18, but what I do remember is, like most elections, many turned up without a real clue as to just what it was they were voting for. As a result, a certain level of surprise and disappointment ensued.
But at 30 it's too late. We won't change it, we won't revisit it, we had a crack and it went nowhere.
It is what it is. But that’s the point - what is it?
I'd say it's something OK, without being anywhere close to great.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
2 comments:
MMP could be better if the Electoral Commission took a pragmatic approach and identified the small number of special vote electorates that matter to the election outcome , ie electorates that could change either way by being "to close to call" involving the leading party (National /ACT this election)
With a focused effort the Electoral Commission could release a preliminary count within days instead of
waiting three weeks for special votes final, when the 5 closest meaningful electorates Mt Albert , Taieri, New Lyn, Te Atatu and Nelson would give direction to coalition discussions.
The binding referendum was in 1993, held at the same time as the General Election.
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