Luxon says he’ll hold MMP referendum if re-elected, sparking confusion within National
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced he would hold a referendum on the MMP voting system if re-elected, catching his own MPs off-guard and drawing criticism from coalition partners.
Christopher Luxon said during a radio interview that he would hold a referendum on the MMP electoral system if his government is returned to power. The announcement came without warning to his caucus and sparked confusion within National, with different MPs giving conflicting accounts of whether it was formal policy or just the PM's personal view. Opposition parties and coalition partners criticised the proposal, with some arguing it reflected frustration at poll numbers and coalition management difficulties rather than genuine principle.
Covered byStuffNZ Herald1NewsNewstalk ZBOtago Daily TimesNewsroomThe SpinoffBusinessDeskinterest.co.nzNot covered byRNZ
Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
NZ Herald
PM Christopher Luxon says heâd hold referendum on MMP if re-elected
The Government has earlier committed to a referendum on a four-year term.
Newstalk ZB
Christopher Luxon: Prime Minister on a MMP referendum, MP perks, comments to business leaders
Christopher Luxon says he supports having another referendum on the MMP voting system if heâs re-elected as he encourages greater support for National so the party can avoid working with âsome yahoo and numptyâ in Cabinet.
Stuff
Luxon says heâll hold referendum on MMP if re-elected
But Labour leader Chris Hipkins said itâs Christopher Luxonâs leadership, not the MMP system, that needs to change.
Otago Daily Times
Luxon will call referendum on MMP if re-elected
Newsroom
Luxon says he will call referendum on MMP if returned to power
The Prime Minister says the referendum is 'something we should consider' and he wants to see it happen next year The post Luxon says he will call referendum on MMP if returned to power appeared first on Newsroom .
Newstalk ZB
PM Christopher Luxon says heâd hold referendum on MMP if re-elected
Christopher Luxon says he supports having another referendum on the MMP voting system if heâs re-elected as he encourages greater support for National so the party can avoid working with âsome yahoo and numptyâ in Cabinet.
1News
Peters says Luxon's call for MMP referendum 'inexplicable'
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made the comments during a radio interview this morning.
interest.co.nz
PM says he would hold a referendum on MMP if re-elected
PM and National leader Christopher Luxon says if re-elected he would hold a referendum on MMP, NZ First and Greens accuse National of 'power grab' while Labour says Luxon has 'let the small parties ride roughshod over him'
NZ Herald
Christopher Luxon wants a referendum on MMP â How does the current system work?
Almost 58% of Kiwi voters backed keeping MMP in the 2011 referendum.
Newstalk ZB
Christopher Luxon wants a referendum on MMP â How does the current system work?
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he will hold a referendum on the MMP voting system if heâs elected back into power.
BusinessDesk
Luxonâs referendum on the wrong problem
There may be worse ways to project stability than floating a referendum on the electoral system three months before voters hold a referendum on you, potentially without having informed your caucus, but I am finding it difficult to think ofâŠ
NZ Herald
Election 2026: National in disarray over Christopher Luxonâs sudden bombshell MMP comments
MPs weren't clear if it was National policy.
1News
Dunne believes PM's frustration with NZ First, ACT behind MMP call
Christopher Luxon announced that if re-elected, he would look at a referendum on MMP.
Stuff
Announcement, policy, or simple answer? The many positions of National MPs after Luxonâs MMP commitment
On Thursday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that, if re-elected, he would hold a referendum on the MMP electoral system.
NZ Herald
Christopher Luxonâs problem with MMP is really a problem with Nationalâs identity â Adam Pearse
OPINION: Nat MPs floundered when asked about a policy they didn't seem to know they had.
1News
'Absolute surprise': Peters on Luxon's call for MMP referendum
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made the comments during a radio interview this morning.
Stuff
Luxon doubles down on MMP referendum while Chris Bishop says itâs not party policy
Luxon says heâll make a referendum on a four year term a priority after the election and wants to âthrowâ MMP in with it.
NZ Herald
Christopher Luxon stands by MMP referendum next term, Chris Bishop calls earlier comments âmusingsâ
Luxon doubled down at an Auckland public meeting.
Newsroom
Could Luxonâs âcaptainâs callâ on MMP sink his ship?
Comment: The PMâs surprise referendum commitment angers coalition partners, confuses MPs, and raises fresh leadership questions The post Could Luxonâs âcaptainâs callâ on MMP sink his ship? appeared first on Newsroom .
The Spinoff
To MMP or not to MMP, that is Christopher Luxonâs question
Christopher Luxonâs off-the-cuff constitutional check-in turns into a poorly timed unforced error, writes Henry Oliver in todayâs excerpt from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here . Yesterday, with little prompting and no warningâŠ
1News
Luxon holds firm on MMP referendum call despite cross-party criticism
The proposal has sparked criticism from across Parliament, with a constitutional expert arguing it has "zero" chance of becoming reality.
NZ Herald
National MP Paul Goldsmith says MMP referendum âof courseâ party policy, other MPs say just Luxonâs view
Two senior National MPs said a referendum was not policy and wouldn't be campaigned on.
Newstalk ZB
National MP Paul Goldsmith says MMP referendum âof courseâ party policy, other MPs say just Luxonâs view
Nationalâs justice spokesman says Christopher Luxonâs support for an MMP referendum is âof courseâ party policy, despite two senior National MPs saying the Prime Ministerâs comments werenât a policy commitment, and the party wouldnât be campaigning on it at theâŠ
Newsroom
Campaign Cut-through: MMP needs fixing, not ditching
Comment: Christopher Luxon's call for an MMP referendum sidesteps critical electoral repairs in favour of a major political power grab The post Campaign Cut-through: MMP needs fixing, not ditching appeared first on Newsroom .
Newsroom
Campaign Cut-through: Money alone wonât secure NZâs infrastructure
Comment: Pouring billions into infrastructure cannot prevent disaster if NZ keeps waiting for assets to break The post Campaign Cut-through: Money alone wonât secure NZâs infrastructure appeared first on Newsroom .
Otago Daily Times
Opinion: Coalition leadership is hard. Luxonâs ânuclear optionâ of electoral reform is not the answer
Newsroom
Luxonâs botched MMP call is a chance to fix Parliament with STV
Comment: Luxonâs MMP proposal opens the door for a better electoral alternative that eliminates party list MPs