48th New Zealand Parliament
Encyclopedia
The 48th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Its composition was determined at a general election
held on 17 September 2005. The new parliament met for the first time on 7 November 2005. It was dissolved on 3 October 2008.
The Labour Party
and the Progressive Party
, backed by New Zealand First
and United Future, established a majority at the beginning the 48th Parliament. The Labour-led administration was in its third term. The National Party
and ACT form the formal opposition to the government. Other non-government parties are the Greens
(who promised to abstain on confidence and supply votes) and the Māori Party
.
The 48th Parliament consists of 121 representatives. This represents an overhang
of one seat, with the Māori Party having won one more electorates than its share of the vote would otherwise have given it. In total, sixty-nine of the MPs were chosen by geographical electorates, including seven Māori electorates
. The remainder were elected by means of party-list proportional representation
under the MMP electoral system.
MPs tried to alter their Oath of office by adding references to the Treaty of Waitangi
. They all had to retake their oaths.
, in power from 1999
until 2008
; minority coalition with Progressive Party
since 2002
Prime Minister: Helen Clark
(Labour) from 1999 to 2008
Governor General: Dame Silvia Cartwright
to August 2006; Anand Satyanand
August 2006–
Deputy Prime Minister: Michael Cullen (Labour) 2002–2008
Leader of the Opposition: Don Brash
(National Party
), to November 2006; John Key
(National) November 2006 –
Speaker : Margaret Wilson
(Labour)
Deputy Speaker: Clem Simich
(National
)
Assistant Speaker: Ross Robertson
(Labour) and Ann Hartley
(Labour)
Leader of the House: Michael Cullen (Labour)
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
held on 17 September 2005. The new parliament met for the first time on 7 November 2005. It was dissolved on 3 October 2008.
The Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
and the Progressive Party
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
, backed by New Zealand First
New Zealand First
New Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992...
and United Future, established a majority at the beginning the 48th Parliament. The Labour-led administration was in its third term. The National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
and ACT form the formal opposition to the government. Other non-government parties are the Greens
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
(who promised to abstain on confidence and supply votes) and the Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
.
The 48th Parliament consists of 121 representatives. This represents an overhang
Overhang seat
Overhang seats can arise in elections under the traditional mixed member proportional system, when a party is entitled to fewer seats as a result of party votes than it has won constituencies.-How overhang seats arise:...
of one seat, with the Māori Party having won one more electorates than its share of the vote would otherwise have given it. In total, sixty-nine of the MPs were chosen by geographical electorates, including seven Māori electorates
Maori seats
In New Zealand politics, Māori electorates, colloquially also called Māori seats, are a special category of electorate that gives reserved positions to representatives of Māori in the New Zealand Parliament...
. The remainder were elected by means of party-list proportional representation
Party-list proportional representation
Party-list proportional representation systems are a family of voting systems emphasizing proportional representation in elections in which multiple candidates are elected...
under the MMP electoral system.
Electorate boundaries for 48th Parliament
Oath of office
All the Māori PartyMaori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
MPs tried to alter their Oath of office by adding references to the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
. They all had to retake their oaths.
Election result
Government: the third and final term of the Fifth Labour GovernmentFifth Labour Government of New Zealand
The Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand between 10 December 1999 and 19 November 2008.-Overview:The fourth National government, in power since 1990, was widely unpopular by 1999, with much of the public antagonised by a series of free-market economic reforms,...
, in power from 1999
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
until 2008
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
; minority coalition with Progressive Party
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
since 2002
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
Prime Minister: Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
(Labour) from 1999 to 2008
Governor General: Dame Silvia Cartwright
Silvia Cartwright
Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright, PCNZM, DBE, QSO, DStJ was the 18th Governor-General of New Zealand.She is a graduate of the University of Otago, where she gained her LL.B degree in 1967, and a former student at Otago Girls' High School.- Public life and family :In 1989, she became the first female...
to August 2006; Anand Satyanand
Anand Satyanand
Sir Anand Satyanand, GNZM, QSO, KStJ was the 19th Governor-General of New Zealand. He previously worked as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman.-Early life and family:...
August 2006–
Deputy Prime Minister: Michael Cullen (Labour) 2002–2008
Leader of the Opposition: Don Brash
Don Brash
Donald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
(National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
), to November 2006; John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
(National) November 2006 –
Speaker : Margaret Wilson
Margaret Wilson
Dame Margaret Wilson DCNZM is a New Zealand academic and former politician. She was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives during the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand. She is a member of the Labour Party.-Early life:...
(Labour)
Deputy Speaker: Clem Simich
Clem Simich
Clement Rudolph "Clem" Simich or Šimić, QSO is a New Zealand politician for the National Party. He was born in Te Kopuru, Northland on 2 June 1939.-Member of Parliament:...
(National
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
)
Assistant Speaker: Ross Robertson
Ross Robertson
Harold Valentine Ross Robertson is a New Zealand politician for the Labour Party. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1987.-Early life:Robertson was born in Wellington...
(Labour) and Ann Hartley
Ann Hartley
Margaret Ann Hartley known as Ann Hartley is a former New Zealand member of parliament, a former Mayor of North Shore City, and a member of the Labour Party.-Early years:...
(Labour)
Leader of the House: Michael Cullen (Labour)
Changes during parliamentary term
- Rod DonaldRod DonaldRodney David "Rod" Donald , was a New Zealand politician who co-led the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, along with Jeanette Fitzsimons.He lived in Christchurch with his partner Nicola Shirlaw, and their three daughters....
, co-leader of the Green Party, died on 6 November 2005 before he was officially sworn in as a member of the 48th Parliament. He was replaced by the next person on the Green Party's list, former MP Nandor TanczosNandor TanczosNándor Steven Tánczos , a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1999 to 2008, represented the Green Party as a list MP. He briefly lost his seat in the 2005 General Election, but returned to Parliament following the sudden death of Rod Donald just prior to the first sitting of Parliament, as he...
, on 16 November. - Jim SuttonJim SuttonJames Robert Sutton, CNZM , generally known as Jim Sutton, was a New Zealand politician from 1984–1990 and from 1993–2006. He has held a range of ministerial portfolios including Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Affairs, Biosecurity, and Trade Negotiations.-Biography:Sutton was born in...
, a Labour list MP, retired from politics on 31 July 2006. He was replaced by the next person on the Labour Party's list, Charles ChauvelCharles Chauvel (politician)Charles Pierre Chauvel is a New Zealand lawyer and politician. Since 2006 he has been a Member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is the first New Zealand MP of Tahitian ancestry...
. - Don BrashDon BrashDonald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
, a National list MP and former leader of the National PartyNew Zealand National PartyThe New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
, retired from Parliament on 7 February 2007. He was replaced by the next person on the National Party's list, Katrina ShanksKatrina ShanksThe New Zealand politician Katrina Shanks serves as a list member of Parliament for the New Zealand National Party Party. Shanks became a Member of Parliament on 7 February 2007, following the formal resignation of Don Brash from Parliament....
. - Georgina BeyerGeorgina BeyerGeorgina Beyer was the world's first openly transsexual mayor, as well as the world's first openly transsexual Member of Parliament, and from 27 November 1999 until 14 February 2007 was an MP for the Labour Party in New Zealand.-Early life:Georgina Bertrand was born and assigned male at birth, and...
, a Labour list MP, announced her retirement on 15 December 2006, and officially resigned from Parliament when it resumed on 13 February 2007. On 20 February she was replaced by the next person on the Labour Party's list, former MP Lesley SoperLesley SoperLesley Soper is a New Zealand politician.-Political career:She was a Labour Party list member of Parliament for several months in 2005, replacing Jonathan Hunt, and she returned to Parliament in 2007 to fill the vacancy caused by Georgina Beyer's resignation.Soper is a member of the Labour Party,...
. - Taito Phillip FieldTaito Phillip FieldTaito Phillip Hans Field is a Samoan New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament for south Auckland electorates from 1993 to 2008. Field was a minister outside Cabinet in a Labour-led government from 2003 to 2005. Following charges of bribery and perverting the course of justice, he was...
, Labour MP for MangereMangereMāngere is one of the larger suburbs in South Auckland, in northern New Zealand.The suburb is located on flat land at the northeastern shore of the Manukau Harbour, to the northwest of the centre of Manukau city and 15 kilometres south of Auckland city centre...
, quit the Labour party after being threatened with expulsion on 16 February 2007. He continued to serve as an MP, and formed the New Zealand Pacific PartyNew Zealand Pacific PartyThe New Zealand Pacific Party was a Christian political party that existed in New Zealand from 2008 to 2010. The party was founded as a vehicle for former Labour MP Taito Phillip Field, who was subsequently convicted for bribery and corruption...
in January 2008. - Gordon CopelandGordon CopelandGordon Copeland is a New Zealand politician who was a Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2008. He was a list MP for the United Future New Zealand party from 2002 until he resigned from the party in 2007. He is now Party President of The Kiwi Party, which he co-founded with another former United...
, a United Future list MP, left the party to become an independent MP in May 2007, and contested the 2008 election as a candidate for The Kiwi Party. - Ann HartleyAnn HartleyMargaret Ann Hartley known as Ann Hartley is a former New Zealand member of parliament, a former Mayor of North Shore City, and a member of the Labour Party.-Early years:...
, a Labour list MP, was elected to the North Shore City Council in the 2007 local body elections. She left Parliament when it resumed in 2008, and was replaced by the next person on the Labour list, Louisa WallLouisa WallLouisa Hareruia Wall is a New Zealand MP and national representative netball and rugby union player.-Early and personal life :...
, a former Silver FernsSilver FernsThe New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent New Zealand in international netball. The team take their nickname from the Silver Tree Fern , which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams. The Silver Ferns were formed in 1938 as a representative...
netballer, on 4 February 2008. - Brian DonnellyBrian DonnellyBrian Donnelly QSO was a New Zealand politician. He was a member of the New Zealand First party.-Early career:Donnelly was trained as a teacher, and worked in the education sector for twenty years...
, a New Zealand FirstNew Zealand FirstNew Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992...
MP, resigned from Parliament from 12 February 2008, and was replaced by Dail JonesDail JonesDail Michael John Jones QSO is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the New Zealand First party, and was formerly in the National Party.-Early life:Jones was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and attended Karachi Grammar School...
on 15 February 2008. Donnelly was appointed as New Zealand's High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. - Dianne YatesDianne YatesDianne Fae Yates is a New Zealand politician. She is a member of the Labour Party.-Member of Parliament:Yates first entered Parliament in the 1993 elections, representing the Hamilton East electorate. In the 1996 elections, she was defeated in Hamilton East by National's Tony Steel, but remained...
, a Labour list MP, stood unsuccessfully for the HamiltonHamilton, New ZealandHamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
City Council in the 2007 local body elections. She resigned as an MP on 29 March 2008 and was replaced by Su'a William SioSu'a William SioSu'a William Sio is a politician who became a Member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives on 1 April 2008 as a New Zealand Labour Party list MP. He currently represents the Māngere electorate seat in Parliament....
on 1 April 2008 as the next person on Labour's list. - Nandor TanczosNandor TanczosNándor Steven Tánczos , a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1999 to 2008, represented the Green Party as a list MP. He briefly lost his seat in the 2005 General Election, but returned to Parliament following the sudden death of Rod Donald just prior to the first sitting of Parliament, as he...
resigned from Parliament and was replaced by Green Party co-leader Russel NormanRussel NormanDr Russel William Norman is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. He is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Green Party alongside Metiria Turei.- Early life :...
on 27 June 2008.