In New Zealand politics, waka-jumping[a] is a colloquial term for when a member of Parliament (MP) either switches political party between elections (taking their parliamentary seat with them and potentially upsetting electoral proportionality in the New Zealand Parliament) or when a list MP's party membership ceases.[2]
In 2001, legislation was enacted that required MPs to leave Parliament if they left their party; this law expired after the 2005 election. In 2018 a similar law was passed which requires a defecting MP to give up their seat on the request of their former party leader. Electorate MPs may re-contest their seat in a by-election, whereas list MPs are replaced by the next available person on the party list.
A 2013 Fairfax-Ipsos poll found that 76% of those surveyed oppose MPs staying in Parliament if they leave their party.[3]
- ^ "waka". Māori Dictionary. Te Aka Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "Maori Party vote vital to save 'waka-jumping act'". The New Zealand Herald. 23 October 2005. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ Rutherford, Hamish (31 May 2013). "Majority oppose 'waka jumping'". Stuff NZ.
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