A four-year term for Parliament would be ‘recipe for chaos’ - Richard Prebble

THREE KEY FACTS All parties except Te Pati Māori support the bill enabling a four-year parliamentary term. The bill allows a four-year term if the Opposition chairs parliamentary committees, raising concerns. A recent poll shows 40% support for a four-year term, with 30% opposed and 30% unsure.

Would Sir Robert Muldoon’s Government have been better with four-year terms? All the political parties in Parliament, except Te Pāti Māori, have voted in favour of the Term of Parliament (Enabling four-year Term) Legislation Amendment Bill. Despite the title, the bill does not automatically change the term of Parliament from three years to four. Instead, the bill enables the Government to extend its term to four years provided the Opposition chairs the parliamentary committees.



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