Enabling a 4-year Parliamentary term

The question of whether New Zealand’s term of Parliament should be extended to 4-years has been debated over the years, resulting in two non-binding referendums in1967 and 1990; both of which were voted down by large majorities.
Post these referendums, there are indications that public opinion may be shifting, with the 2023 Independent Electoral Review (IER) findings resulting in a referendum on the topic being recommended. This has gained further traction through the coalition agreements between National and the ACT and NZ First Parties, which contain commitments to support, to select committee, legislation to extend the term of Parliament. Accordingly, the Term of Parliament (Enabling 4-year Term) Legislation Amendment Bill (Bill) was introduced and is now at select committee.
Under the Bill, the maximum term of Parliament would remain 3 years, with the option provided to extend this to 4 years. This would be decided at the start of a parliamentary year, and would be contingent on the requirement that the membership of the subject select committees is proportionate to the non-executive party members (not a Minister or Parliamentary Under-Secretary). This requirement, which could result in the Opposition parties having more members on select committees, is intended to strengthen the checks and balances on the Government through the select committees.
If the Bill is passed, its key provision of enabling a 4-year term of Parliament would be put to a referendum, requiring a majority to support this change for it to be enacted.