Politics of New Zealand
Constitution
The Crown Monarch King Charles III Governor-General (list) Cindy Kiro Realm of New Zealand
Executive government List of governments (current) Cabinet Ministers Prime Minister (list) Christopher Luxon Executive Council State services departments
Legislature 54th New Zealand Parliament King-in-Parliament House of Representatives Speaker: Gerry Brownlee Official Opposition
Elections Political parties Electorates Electoral system Electoral reform Electoral Commission Recent elections: General: 2014 2017 2020 2023 Local: 2013 2016 2019 2022 Referendums Political funding and election expenses
Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice: Helen Winkelmann Court of Appeal President: Mark Cooper High Court District Court Other Courts: Employment Environment Courts Martial Appeal Māori Land Waitangi Tribunal Law of New Zealand
Local government Regions Territorial authorities Community boards
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister: Winston Peters Diplomatic missions of / in New Zealand Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy New Zealand and the United Nations
Ideology Anarchism Christian Conservatism Environmentalism Fascism Feminism Liberalism Populism Republicanism Socialism
Related topics Māori politics Nuclear-free zone
New Zealand portal Other countries
v t e

A referendum on the length of the term of Parliament was held in New Zealand on 23 September 1967. Voters were asked whether they approved of extending the term from three to four years. The change was rejected by 68.1% of voters, with a turnout of 69.7%.^[1][2]

The referendum was held in conjunction with the 1967 New Zealand licensing hours referendum.

Background

Prior to the referendum the length of the term of Parliament had changed multiple times since the first general election of 1853. Initially set at five years per term in the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, the term length changed to three years in 1879, and during both World Wars the term was extended on a provisional basis, but proved to be unpopular with the electorate.^[3]

The referendum did not gain significant public attention, largely because of the licensing hours referendum that was happening at the same time.^[4]

This referendum was non-binding, so if a majority of voters supported the proposed measures, then Parliament would have had to vote on it. As the term of Parliament is an entrenched clause in the New Zealand constitution, 75% of MPs would have had to vote for it.^[5]

Results