New Zealand Election Study - Government and the Electoral System, 2002

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Government and the Electoral System, 2002

**WPTYNUM E1. The Number of Parties in New Zealand**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Too many parties	2868	49.7	50.6	50.6
	2 About the right number	2264	39.2	40.0	90.6
	3 Not enough parties	107	1.8	1.9	92.5
	9 Don’t Know	427	7.4	7.5	100.0
	Total	5666	98.1	100.0
Missing	System	110	1.9
Total		5776	100.0

**WMMPTM E2. Enough Time to Tell About MMP**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 There has been enough time to decide about MMP	2610	45.2	62.7	62.7
	2 It is too soon to tell about MMP	1008	17.5	24.2	87.0
	9 Don't know	542	9.4	13.0	100.0
	Total	4159	72.0	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	115	2.0
	Total	1616	28.0
Total		5776	100.0

**WMMPFPP E3. Vote in Hypothetical 2002 Electoral Referendum**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 To keep MMP	2472	42.8	44.4	44.4
	2 Return to FPP	1589	27.5	28.5	72.9
	3 For an alternative, neither MMP or FPP	499	8.6	9.0	81.8
	4 Mix of FPP and MMP	6	.1	.1	81.9
	5 Corporate Model	4	.1	.1	82.0
	6 STV	172	3.0	3.1	85.1
	7 SMP	9	.2	.2	85.3
	9 Don't Know	822	14.2	14.7	100.0
	Total	5573	96.5	100.0
Missing	System	203	3.5
Total		5776	100.0

**WREFVOT E3. Vote in the 1993 electoral referendum**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Didn't vote in referendum	814	14.1	19.8	19.8
	2 FPP	944	16.3	23.0	42.8
	3 MMP	1842	31.9	44.8	87.6
	9	509	8.8	12.4	100.0
	Total	4108	71.1	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	166	2.9
	Total	1668	28.9
Total		5776	100.0

**WANTHRF E4. Another Referendum within 5 Years?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 No no referendum	992	17.2	23.7	23.7
	2 Yes but not at all strongly	608	10.5	14.6	38.3
	3 Yes but not very strongly	697	12.1	16.7	55.0
	4 Yes Fairly strongly	649	11.2	15.5	70.5
	5 Yes very strongly	616	10.7	14.7	85.3
	9 Don't Know	616	10.7	14.7	100.0
	Total	4179	72.3	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	96	1.7
	Total	1597	27.7
Total		5776	100.0

**WMANUMJ E5. Should 40% of votes get Majority?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 About 40% of seats in parliament	2220	38.4	53.5	53.5
	2 More than half the seats so it can easily govern on its own	534	9.2	12.9	66.3
	3 Somewhere between 40% and half the seats	652	11.3	15.7	82.0
	9 Don't Know	746	12.9	18.0	100.0
	Total	4153	71.9	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	121	2.1
	Total	1622	28.1
Total		5776	100.0

**WMINVT E6. Should 15% of Votes Get 15%?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 About 15% of seats in parliament	2515	43.5	60.7	60.7
	2 Less than 15% of seats in parliament	633	11.0	15.3	76.0
	3 No seats at all	209	3.6	5.0	81.1
	9 Don't Know	783	13.6	18.9	100.0
	Total	4140	71.7	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	135	2.3
	Total	1636	28.3
Total		5776	100.0

**WGOVPRF E7. Single Party or Coalition Government?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Government made up of a single party	2217	38.4	39.1	39.1
	2 Coalition government of more than one party	3012	52.1	53.1	92.3
	9	439	7.6	7.7	100.0
	Total	5668	98.1	100.0
Missing	System	107	1.9
Total		5776	100.0

**WPTYPRP E8. Manufactured Majority v. PR**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 One party has more than half the seats in parliament so it c	2203	38.1	39.1	39.1
	2 Parties have about the same percentage of seats as their per	2860	49.5	50.8	90.0
	9	565	9.8	10.0	100.0
	Total	5628	97.4	100.0
Missing	System	148	2.6
Total		5776	100.0

**WMMPFR E9. MMP is much fairer than FPP**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Agree	1931	33.4	46.4	46.4
	2 Neutral	892	15.4	21.4	67.8
	3 Disagree	861	14.9	20.7	88.5
	9 Don't Know	481	8.3	11.5	100.0
	Total	4165	72.1	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	110	1.9
	Total	1611	27.9
Total		5776	100.0

**WMMPDIS E9. MMp has been a disaster and we should get rid of it as soon as possible**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Agree	829	14.3	19.9	19.9
	2 Neutral	913	15.8	22.0	41.9
	3 Disagree	1986	34.4	47.8	89.7
	9 Don't Know	426	7.4	10.3	100.0
	Total	4154	71.9	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	120	2.1
	Total	1621	28.1
Total		5776	100.0

**WPWRSM E9. MMP gives too much power to small parties**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Agree	1649	28.6	39.7	39.7
	2 Neutral	1050	18.2	25.3	65.0
	3 Disagree	1102	19.1	26.5	91.5
	9 Don't Know	353	6.1	8.5	100.0
	Total	4155	71.9	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	120	2.1
	Total	1621	28.1
Total		5776	100.0

**WPWRLG E9. First past the post gave too much power to large parties**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Agree	2337	40.5	56.3	56.3
	2 Neutral	795	13.8	19.1	75.4
	3 Disagree	601	10.4	14.5	89.9
	9 Don't Know	421	7.3	10.1	100.0
	Total	4154	71.9	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	121	2.1
	Total	1622	28.1
Total		5776	100.0

**WCANLST E9. Voters not parties should decide which of the candidates on the party's list get the seats it has won.**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Agree	2302	39.9	55.6	55.6
	2 Neutral	847	14.7	20.4	76.0
	3 Disagree	582	10.1	14.0	90.0
	9 Don't Know	413	7.2	10.0	100.0
	Total	4144	71.8	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	130	2.3
	Total	1631	28.2
Total		5776	100.0

**WPRFWK E9. Parties should say before election day what other parties they want to work with in a coalition government**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Agree	2242	38.8	54.2	54.2
	2 Neutral	925	16.0	22.4	76.6
	3 Disagree	627	10.9	15.2	91.7
	9 Don't Know	343	5.9	8.3	100.0
	Total	4137	71.6	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	138	2.4
	Total	1639	28.4
Total		5776	100.0

**WMMPSUC E9. MMP has been a success and we should keep it**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Agree	1208	20.9	29.1	29.1
	2 Neutral	1366	23.6	32.9	61.9
	3 Disagree	1105	19.1	26.6	88.5
	9 Don't Know	477	8.3	11.5	100.0
	Total	4156	72.0	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	119	2.1
	Total	1620	28.0
Total		5776	100.0

**WMILLER E9. People who vote for small parties only do so to protest against National and Labour**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Agree	1369	23.7	32.9	32.9
	2 Neutral	910	15.8	21.8	54.7
	3 Disagree	1429	24.7	34.3	89.0
	9 Don't Know	457	7.9	11.0	100.0
	Total	4166	72.1	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	109	1.9
	Total	1610	27.9
Total		5776	100.0

**WMINOR E10. Government Needs More Than Half Seats**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Government needs more than half	1244	21.5	30.1	30.1
	2 Government does not need more than half so long as other par	2425	42.0	58.7	88.8
	9	464	8.0	11.2	100.0
	Total	4134	71.6	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	141	2.4
	Total	1642	28.4
Total		5776	100.0

**WMINPRF E11. Prefer Government More than Half or Less Than Half the Seats**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 More than half	1903	32.9	46.4	46.4
	2 Less than half when it can get the support of other parties	1668	28.9	40.7	87.1
	9	530	9.2	12.9	100.0
	Total	4102	71.0	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	173	3.0
	Total	1674	29.0
Total		5776	100.0

**WSPELEC E12. Voting under MMP is like two separate elections, one for the electorate seats and one for the party list seats**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 True	2757	47.7	67.2	67.2
	2 False	834	14.4	20.3	87.5
	9 Don't Know	511	8.9	12.5	100.0
	Total	4102	71.0	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	173	3.0
	Total	1674	29.0
Total		5776	100.0

**WPVTDC E12. The party votes usually decide the total number of seats each party gets in parliament**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 True	2980	51.6	73.1	73.1
	2 False	466	8.1	11.4	84.5
	9 Don't Know	632	10.9	15.5	100.0
	Total	4078	70.6	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	197	3.4
	Total	1698	29.4
Total		5776	100.0

**WMSVTST E12. The party with the most votes is more likely to get the most seats under MMP than under FPP**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 True	2146	37.2	52.8	52.8
	2 False	908	15.7	22.3	75.1
	9 Don't Know	1011	17.5	24.9	100.0
	Total	4066	70.4	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	209	3.6
	Total	1710	29.6
Total		5776	100.0

**WELECTHR E13. Remove Electorate Threshold for List Seats**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 Yes change so no list seats 3%	1726	29.9	42.0	42.0
	2 No keep list seats with 3%	1005	17.4	24.4	66.4
	9	1383	23.9	33.6	100.0
	Total	4114	71.2	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	161	2.8
	Total	1662	28.8
Total		5776	100.0

**WSTABIL E14. More Than One Party Government Providing Stability**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 One party best	2335	40.4	56.7	56.7
	2 More than one party best	1084	18.8	26.3	83.0
	3 Both the same	407	7.0	9.9	92.9
	9 Don't Know	294	5.1	7.1	100.0
	Total	4120	71.3	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	155	2.7
	Total	1656	28.7
Total		5776	100.0

**WTOUGH E14. More Than One Party Government Making tough decisions**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 One party best	1731	30.0	42.2	42.2
	2 More than one party best	1694	29.3	41.3	83.5
	3 Both the same	395	6.8	9.6	93.1
	9 Don't Know	283	4.9	6.9	100.0
	Total	4103	71.0	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	172	3.0
	Total	1673	29.0
Total		5776	100.0

**WPROM E14. More than One Party Government Keeping promises**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 One party best	1165	20.2	28.5	28.5
	2 More than one party best	1963	34.0	47.9	76.4
	3 Both the same	636	11.0	15.5	91.9
	9 Don't Know	331	5.7	8.1	100.0
	Total	4094	70.9	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	180	3.1
	Total	1681	29.1
Total		5776	100.0

**WWANT E14. More Than One Party Government: Doing what the people want**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 One party best	728	12.6	17.7	17.7
	2 More than one party best	2322	40.2	56.5	74.2
	3 Both the same	703	12.2	17.1	91.3
	9 Don't Know	355	6.2	8.7	100.0
	Total	4108	71.1	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	167	2.9
	Total	1668	28.9
Total		5776	100.0

**WQUIZ3 E15. Since 1981 National has been in government for at least 5 more years than Labour**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 True	1987	34.4	48.3	48.3
	2 False	472	8.2	11.5	59.7
	9 Don't Know	1657	28.7	40.3	100.0
	Total	4116	71.3	100.0
Missing	817	1501	26.0
	System	159	2.8
	Total	1660	28.7
Total		5776	100.0

**WQUIZ1 E15 The term of parliament is 4 years**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 True	1062	18.4	18.8	18.8
	2 False	4200	72.7	74.5	93.3
	9 Don't Know	378	6.5	6.7	100.0
	Total	5639	97.6	100.0
Missing	System	136	2.4
Total		5776	100.0

**WQUIZ2 E15. Enrolling as voter in NZ is compulsory**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1 True	3944	68.3	70.0	70.0
	2 False	1328	23.0	23.6	93.6
	9 Don't Know	360	6.2	6.4	100.0
	Total	5632	97.5	100.0
Missing	System	144	2.5
Total		5776	100.0

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