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General
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| Government |
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 New
Zealand is an independent state that practices a centralised democracy
system with a 120-member House of Representatives elected by universal
adult suffrage (under a system of 'mixed member' proportional representation)
for three years. There are four electorates specifically for Maori who
choose to vote on a separate roll. The remaining half of the house is
chosen according to the proportion of each party's support in a special
'party' vote on election day. The remaining members of parliament are
electorates.
The Head of State
is the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. New Zealand's Prime Minister
is appointed by the Governor General, a representative of the British
Queen as sovereign of New Zealand. The PM is also responsible for electing
a Cabinet, which is bound to the House.
The state is further
divided into cities and districts, each with their own separate authorities.
These local authorities are obligated to their electorates and must abide
by Parliament rules, but matters such as local taxes on landed property
are monitored on their own. Main political parties are the Labour Party,
the (conservative) National Party, the Alliance Party, and the New Zealand
First Party.
New Zealand law is
based on statues enacted by Parliament, as well as cases decided in New
Zealand courts, otherwise known as 'Common Law'. Courts operate freely
from government intervention. Judges are appointed (not elected) by the
Governor-General and in accordance to the 'rule of law', Ministers, MPs
and public servants do not hold special exemptions from the law.
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