Women's Political Representation: Does the Electoral System Matter?

Abstract

New Zealand's current electoral system, a mix of electorate and proportional representation, leads to two types of MP sitting togethe R within the same legislative chamber, the House of Representatives. This study explores the views of women electorate and list MPs about their representational roles and responsibilities, focusing in particular on their attitudes towards the representation of women. The analysis is based on interviews conducted in April-May 2003 with 28 of 34 New Zealand women MPs, with at least one woman MP taking part from every party with women MPs elected at the 2002 election. The discussions with women MPs reveal a broad acceptance among the MPs of a responsibility to represent women, a commitment seemingly little influenced by whethe R MPs’ mandates were derived from an electorate or a party list.