List of parliaments of New Zealand (original) (raw)

This page is a list of elections and their subsequent parliamentary makeups in New Zealand. After the adoption of the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, which granted New Zealand self-governance, New Zealand has had a parliamentary system, with its first election in 1853. For a government to form, they must obtain the confidence of a majority of the elected MPs in Parliament. Initially, governments were formed through bargaining with individual MPs, however after the introduction of political parties in 1890, confidence was brokered through these parties when required.