In a bold experiment, New Zealand revolutionized its electoral system, trading in its traditional first-past-the-post method for a mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) system. The country's first election under this new framework took place on October 12, 1996. Jim Bolger's National Party emerged victorious, but without a majority. In a surprising twist, they formed an unlikely coalition with Winston Peters's New Zealand First party, securing 61 seats in Parliament. This dramatic shift not only marked a new era in Kiwi politics but also cemented Peters's reputation as a shrewd political strategist.