🥧 Civic Classroom Model: The Arithmetic of Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) in New Zealand Statutory Reference: Electoral Act 1993 (ss 191, 192)
🏛️ Objective Electoral Math Explainer 🥧

The Big Parliament Pie!

By statutory law, New Zealand's Parliament starts with a base allocation of 120 pie slices. The Party Vote determines how much pie each qualified party earns nationwide. Local Electorate winners take their pie first. If a party wins more local seats than their party vote entitlement, democratic constituency wins cannot be denied—so the kitchen bakes EXTRA PIE (the "Overhang")!

Baseline Slices
120
Electoral Act 1993, s 191
Overhang Slices Baked
+10
Section 192 triggered!
Total Parliament Slices
130
Expanded House Size
Majority Needed (50%+1)
66
Slices to govern

🎛️ 7 Generic Party Controls

Total Party Vote
100.0%

🥧 The Parliament Banquet Pie

Golden glowing slices indicate freshly baked overhang seats

House Size
130
130
Total Slices

🍽️ Who Has the Most Pie? (Majority Plate)

Pre-loaded example: Party A (Blue) + Party D (Yellow) + Party E (Black). Click any party to add or remove!
Click to toggle parties on the plate:
Combined Slices: 66 / 130 🎉 HAS THE MAJORITY (66 Slices)
0 slices Target Majority: 66 slices 130 slices
Notice: When extra overhang slices are baked, Parliament expands. As Parliament grows, the number of pie slices needed for an outright working majority (50% + 1) also scales up!

📋 Statutory Seat Allocation Table (Sainte-Laguë)

Party Vote % Entitled (120) Electorates Won Overhang List MPs Final Seats