New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, made up of the North Island (Te Ika-a-Maui), the South Island (Te Waipounamu) and more than 700 smaller islands. Its capital is Wellington and its largest city is Auckland. The 2023 census counted 4,993,923 people.

The head of state is King Charles III, represented by Governor-General Cindy Kiro. Christopher Luxon has been prime minister since 27 November 2023. Parliament is unicameral, with 120 seats filled under the mixed-member proportional (MMP) system. Each voter casts a party vote and an electorate vote, and a party needs at least 5% of the party vote or one electorate seat to hold seats. Because one party rarely wins enough seats to govern alone, parties often form coalitions or confidence and supply agreements.

The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840 in the Bay of Islands, and Britain declared sovereignty over all of New Zealand on 21 May 1840. The country gained dominion status on 26 September 1907, and the Constitution Act 1986 removed remaining British legislative powers from 1 January 1987. New Zealand is one of 15 Commonwealth realms.

Nation in Shorts covers New Zealand mainly through its elections and coalition politics.

Sources: Wikipedia, Electoral Commission: What is MMP?, New Zealand Government (Beehive)