Term of Parliament (Enabling 4-year Term) Legislation Amendment Bill (No 128-2)
Issued by Hon David Seymour (ACT Party leader)
What happened
Seymour's member's bill amends the Constitution Act 1986 and Electoral Act 1993 to enable a 4-year parliamentary term — but only if voters approve the change in a referendum. The select committee reported 25 August 2025: proceed with the 4-year term subject to referendum; reject the separate ACT proposal to hand select-committee control to the opposition.
What's at stake
- Who feels it
- All NZ voters; Parliament itself; constitutional structure
- Timing
- Subject to referendum; no fixed commencement date yet
- How it works
- Amends Constitution Act 1986 + Electoral Act 1993. Conditional — takes effect only if majority of voters approve in a referendum.
- Key context
- Select committee reported 25 August 2025 recommending the 4-year term proceed subject to referendum, but rejected ACT's separate proposal for opposition control of select committees. Currently between report-back and second reading.
- Wider effects
- If passed and ratified by referendum, would change the NZ general-election cycle from 3 years to 4 years. Reshapes the entire political and legislative timetable.
Who feels it
lawyersinhousestudentspublic
Source on record
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2025/0128/latest/whole.htmlIndependently triangulated against 2 additional NZ sources.
Tracked neutrally by LexNZ. Status reflects the primary source as of 21 May 2026. Not legal advice.
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