9 Dec 2010

PM supports four-year parliamentary term

6:34 am on 9 December 2010

The Prime Minister supports the idea of holding general elections every four years and says he thinks the public might support it.

The length of the Parliamentary term is one of the matters to be considered by a constitutional review, announced by the Government on Wednesday.

An earlier proposal to increase the term from three to four years was defeated in a referendum in 1967, and again in 1990.

Despite that, John Key supports the idea of holding general elections every four years and says the public might share his view.

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei says while she can see why the public may be cynical at times about MPs and what they do, having a four year term would allow more long-term policy to be developed.