New Zealand PM Luxon open to referendum on electoral system

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Thursday he was open to a referendum on whether to change the country's electoral system, opening another split in his centre-right coalition months ahead of a general election.



New Zealand adopted the German-style Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system in 1996 after an inquiry found smaller parties were being shut out of parliament under the previous first-past-the-post system.



Luxon said in an interview with radio station Newstalk ZB that a referendum is "something we should consider", and could be held as early as 2027 if he returns to power following a general election scheduled for November 7.



"I think I would because I actually think that it is quite right to check in constitutionally and say, is this the system, New Zealand, you still want?" he said. He did not say whether any referendum would be binding.



Luxon's remarks led to criticism from his coalition partners, who are already split on economic and minority issues. Winston Peters, the leader of New Zealand First, a minor party in Luxon's National-led coalition, called the idea "inexplicable".