Electoral maths: A game of kingmakers, overhangs and fractions

Electoral maths: A game of kingmakers, overhangs and fractions
The battle over the Beehive could take weeks. (Image: Depositphotos)
Dileepa Fonseka
Plenty of people can’t wait for the election to be over, but when results from the election start trickling in tomorrow evening, it may well just be the start of a different saga.Systems of proportional representation can throw up odd combinations of parties, making it difficult for anybody to stitch together a coalition.We probably won’t get a 16-month deadlock like the Belgian government had in 2019 and 2020, but the problem you always have with multi-party governing arrangements is any deal you try to stitch up has the potential...

More Politics

KiwiRail CEO on getting it match fit, chasing freight volumes
Infrastructure

KiwiRail CEO on getting it match fit, chasing freight volumes

It comes as Rail Minister Winston Peters warns waste won't be tolerated. 

Oliver Lewis 03 Jun 2025
WorkSafe could face big changes if reforms stall
Policy

WorkSafe could face big changes if reforms stall

Workplace safety minister announces big changes, but there could be more to come.

Dileepa Fonseka 03 Jun 2025
Govt shifting consent priorities towards development
Policy

Govt shifting consent priorities towards development

The Government said it was releasing three discussion documents on the changes.

Oliver Lewis 29 May 2025
Calls for rail workforce plan
Infrastructure

Calls for rail workforce plan

More than one in four workers are expected to retire in the next decade.

Oliver Lewis 29 May 2025