Fourth National Government of New Zealand - The 1993 Election

The 1993 Election

The 1993 election results were primarily an expression of voter dissatisfaction with both the major parties. National and Labour each received about a third of the popular vote, while the Alliance and New Zealand First parties, led by MPs who had angrily left Labour and National, respectively, received 18.2 and 8.4% of the popular vote. However the first past the post electoral system meant that the two minor parties received only two seats each, while National got 50 seats and Labour, with less than one percent less of the popular vote, got 45. Voter dissatisfaction with the electoral system was reflected in the simultaneous electoral reform referendum, which resulted in New Zealand adopting the Mixed Member Proportional electoral system for future general elections.