Third time lucky for a 4-year parliamentary term? A lack of checks and balances is still the problem
- Written by Grant Duncan, Visiting Scholar in Politics, School of Policy and Global Affairs, City St George's, University of London

If history is a guide, any future referendum on extending the parliamentary term to four years will be rejected by New Zealanders. Two previous referendums, in 1967 and 1990, saw nearly 70% of voters favour retaining a three-year term.
But it’s clearly an idea that won’t go away. With the Term of Parliament (Enabling 4-year...