What is a party list?

19 Oct 2026

Politics

Now You Know, season two, episode 65

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Robbie Nicol and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith explain the magical place that list MPs come from.

In New Zealand, once we've invited all the MPs who won their electorates into parliament, we top up each party with more MPs until their share of parliament is roughly the same as their share of the party vote.

And we get these extra MPs from the party list.

Parties have to publish their lists before voting begins. This year they were all published by October 8. Each list ranks all of the party's list candidates, from the people they most want to get into parliament down to the people they don't necessarily want to get into parliament quite as much, no offence.

Directed, filmed and edited by Isaiah Tour.
Written and presented by Robbie Nicol and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith.
Made with the support of NZ On Air.

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