Politically-speaking, the current MMP coalition government is the most successful one we’ve ever had.

Because, unlike coalitions of the past, the minor parties - ACT and NZ First - have managed to maintain their presence and identity.

In the past, the minor parties have been swallowed up by the bigger parties and, generally, disappeared from view.

This time around it’s a completely different story. With ACT and NZ First making their presence well and truly felt.

Not just recently. But for the whole term.

Some might put that down to Christopher Luxon’s failure to keep David Seymour and Winston Peters under control.

But no one can say that ACT and NZ First have disappeared off the radar the way the Maori Party did after being in cahoots with National.

Even the Greens found the confidence and supply arrangement they had with Labour between 2017 and 2020 took the spotlight off them.

This time, though, we’ve had a coalition government like never before. In that none of the parties have become bit players.

So, from a purely political perspective, it’s been a raging success.

But Christopher Luxon wants a referendum on our voting system to find out if people are still happy with MMP. He’s obviously not a fan, because he says he doesn’t want to work with “yahoos and numpties” in a coalition cabinet.

His ham-fisted announcement on Newstalk ZB yesterday was news to his caucus colleagues. It was news to his coalition partners too. With Winston Peters describing it as an “inexplicable power grab”.
But I reckon that if we didn’t have MMP, there’d be a truckload of people unable to bring themselves to vote in this year’s election.

That might be an easy thing to say, given we’ve had MMP for the past 30 years and because MMP has given us more voting options.

But the idea, after all this time, of going back to the days where it was pretty much Labour or National doesn’t sound great, does it?

And, whatever your politics, you’vec got to say that the choice and the variety MMP gives us is brilliant. There’s certainly no way I would want to see it go.

LISTEN ABOVE

Politically-speaking, the current MMP coalition government is the most successful one we’ve ever had.
Because, unlike coalitions of the past, the minor parties - ACT and NZ First - have managed to maintain their presence and identity.
In the past, the minor parties have been swallowed up by the bigger parties and, generally, disappeared from view.
This time around it’s a completely different story. With ACT and NZ First making their presence well and truly felt.
Not just recently. But for the whole term.
Some might put that down to Christopher Luxon’s failure to keep David Seymour and Winston Peters under control.
But no one can say that ACT and NZ First have disappeared off the radar the way the Maori Party did after being in cahoots with National.
Even the Greens found the confidence and supply arrangement they had with Labour between 2017 and 2020 took the spotlight off them.
This time, though, we’ve had a coalition government like never before. In that none of the parties have become bit players.
So, from a purely political perspective, it’s been a raging success.
But Christopher Luxon wants a referendum on our voting system to find out if people are still happy with MMP. He’s obviously not a fan, because he says he doesn’t want to work with “yahoos and numpties” in a coalition cabinet.
His ham-fisted announcement on Newstalk ZB yesterday was news to his caucus colleagues. It was news to his coalition partners too. With Winston Peters describing it as an “inexplicable power grab”. But I reckon that if we didn’t have MMP, there’d be a truckload of people unable to bring themselves to vote in this year’s election.
That might be an easy thing to say, given we’ve had MMP for the past 30 years and because MMP has given us more voting options.
But the idea, after all this time, of going back to the days where it was pretty much Labour or National doesn’t sound great, does it?
And, whatever your politics, you’vec got to say that the choice and the variety MMP gives us is brilliant. There’s certainly no way I would want to see it go.
LISTEN ABOVE

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Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays. It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking. If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio. With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector. Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

John MacDonald: MMP is best, even with the yahoos and numpties

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/627d0885-6075-4f13-9825-b49f0012f77e/transcript