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24 December 2008
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  • This paper provides a summary of the New Zealand General Election of 8th November 2008, based on the final (official) results released by the Chief Electoral Office, following the counting of special votes.

  • The final results confirm the total number of seats in Parliament will be 122. In MPs per capita, New Zealand ranks below the OECD average of 4.83 MPs per 100,000 population among unicameral parliaments.

  • Although the National Party has lost one list seat compared to election night –– and now has 58 seats in total – its share of the party vote (44.93%) is the highest it has achieved under MMP.

  • The Green Party has gained one list seat compared to election night, and now has nine seats in total, after its share of the party vote increased to 6.72 % following the counting of special votes.

  • There are no changes to the number of seats held on election night by other parties, although their share of the party vote has changed.

  • All electorate candidates leading on election night have been confirmed as winning their seats. The electorate with the largest winning margin (20,547) was Helensville, while New Plymouth was the electorate with the smallest winning margin (105).

  • Women comprise 34% of the new Parliament, the highest proportion to date of any New Zealand Parliament. Internationally, this level of representation of women in Parliament now places New Zealand among the top fifteen countries on this measure.

  • The median age of the 2008 parliament is 51.0 years. The youngest MP is 28 years old – the oldest, 71 years. In generational terms, over two-thirds (67%) of the 49th Parliament are ‘baby boomers’, one-quarter (25%) are ‘generation X’, and 8% are from the pre World War Two generation.

  • In 2008 20 MPs (16% of MPs) listed their previous occupation as a ‘manager or administrator’, confirming the trend for increasing numbers of these professionals (which include public servants) to enter Parliament.

  • The next election must be held by Saturday 7th January, 2012.