Reducing the party vote threshold from 5 percent to 4 percent. If the 4 percent threshold is introduced, it should be reviewed after three general elections. Abolishing the one electorate seat threshold – a party must cross the party vote threshold to gain list seats. Abolishing the provision of overhang seats for parties not reaching the threshold – the extra electorates would be made up at the expense of list seats to retain 120 MPs Retaining the status quo for by-election candidacy and dual candidacy. Retaining the status quo with closed party lists, but increasing scrutiny in selection of list candidates to ensure parties comply with their own party rules. Parliament should give consideration to fixing the ratio between electorate seats and list seats at 60:40 (72:48 in a 120-seat parliament) Parliament is responsible for implementing any changes to the system, which has been largely unchanged since it was introduced in 1994 for the 1996 election. In November 2012, a private member's bill under the name of opposition Labour Party member Iain Lees-Galloway was put forward to implement the first two recommendations, but the bill was not chosen in the member's bill ballot. In May 2014, Judith Collins and John Key said that there was no inter-party consensus on implementing the results of the Commission, so they would not introduce any legislation. 2021 electoral law review In October 2021, the Labour government announced an independent review of New Zealand's electoral law, including aspects of the MMP system. The scope of the review has been set in its terms of reference. It is examining: the overall design of the legislative framework for the electoral system maintaining a fit-for-purpose electoral regime for voters, parties and candidates previous recommendations the term of Parliament. The Independent Panel leading the review was announced in May 2022. The panel will provide its recommendations by the end of 2023, following public engagement. Electoral boundaries The number of electorate MPs is calculated in three steps. The less populated of New Zealand's two principal islands, the South Island, has a fixed quota of 16 seats. The number of seats for the North Island and the number of special reserved seats for Māori are then calculated in proportion to these. (The Māori electorates have their own special electoral roll; people of Māori descent may opt to enroll either on this roll or on the general roll, and the number of