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

Prime minister: It's time to stop saying ‘no’ to growth
Economy

Prime minister: It's time to stop saying ‘no’ to growth

Going for growth is now 'non-negotiable', says Christopher Luxon.

Is innovation a priority for National?
Opinion

Peter Griffin: Is innovation a priority for National?

The challenge for Shane Reti will be to chart a new course in science and innovation.

Regulatory Standards Bill fails first test: Upton
Law & Regulation

Regulatory Standards Bill fails first test: Upton

Official consultation document misreads OECD data on regulatory performance.

'Rolling maul' of Govt economy announcements
Economy

'Rolling maul' of Govt economy announcements

Nicola Willis plans to make a lot of policy announcements around growth.