New Zealand House of Representatives

New Zealand House of Representatives
54th Parliament
Type
Type	Unicameral chamber of the New Zealand Parliament
Leadership
Speaker of the House	Gerry Brownlee, National since 5 December 2023
Prime Minister	Christopher Luxon, National since 27 November 2023
Leader of the Opposition	Chris Hipkins, Labour since 27 November 2023
Leader of the House	Chris Bishop, National since 27 November 2023
Shadow Leader of the House	Kieran McAnulty, Labour since 30 November 2023
Structure
Seats	123
Political groups	Government (68)   National (49)   ACT (11)   NZ First (8) Official Opposition (34)   Labour (34) Crossbench (21)   Green (15)   Māori (6)
Committees	18 select committees
Length of term	Up to 3 years
Salary	NZ$163,961[1]
Elections
Voting system	Mixed-member proportional representation
First election	14 July – 1 October 1853
Last election	14 October 2023
Next election	2026
Meeting place
Debating Chamber, Parliament House, Wellington
Website
www.parliament.govt.nz
Rules
Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, 2020 (English)

The House of Representatives (Māori: Whare o Raro, lit. 'Lower House')^[2] is the sole chamber of the New Zealand Parliament. The House passes laws, provides ministers to form Cabinet, and supervises the work of government. It is also responsible for adopting the state's budgets and approving the state's accounts.

The House of Representatives is a democratic body consisting of representatives known as members of parliament (MPs).^[3] There are normally 120 MPs, though there are currently 123 due to an overhang. Elections take place usually every three years using a mixed-member proportional representation system, which combines first-past-the-post elected seats with closed party lists. 72 MPs are elected directly in single-member electoral districts and further seats are filled by list MPs based on each party's share of the party vote. A government may be formed from the single party or coalition of parties that has the support of a majority of MPs.^[3] If no majority is possible, a minority government can be formed with a confidence and supply arrangement. If a government is unable to maintain the confidence of the House then an early general election can be called.

The House of Representatives was created by the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 (effective 1853), an act of the British Parliament, which established a bicameral legislature; however the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, was abolished in 1950.^[3] Parliament received full control over all New Zealand affairs in 1947 with the passage of the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act. The debating chamber of the House of Representatives is located inside Parliament House in Wellington, the capital city. Sittings of the House are usually open to the public, but the House may at any time vote to sit in private. Proceedings are broadcast through Parliament TV and the AM Network.