The convention of collective cabinet responsibility is significant for the stability of a government – if the House of Representatives loses confidence in cabinet, and therefore the government, it can dissolve the government by passing a vote of no confidence.

Thomas Mackenzie (centre, front row) became the prime minister of New Zealand in March 1912 after the previous leader of the ruling Liberal party, Joseph Ward, resigned in the wake of the December 1911 election, which produced an inconclusive result. Ward's government only won the confidence vote in Parliament, which was held to decide the government, on the casting vote of the speaker of the house. Mackenzie was even less successful – his government was thrown out after a second, successful, no confidence vote in July 1912.