National leader Simon Bridges says the minority parties in the coalition Government, particularly NZ First, are behind calls for a referendum on electoral reform as they are worried about their popularity.

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Mr Bridges said the National caucus would discuss the lowering of the MMP threshold, but it was clear to him that Winston Peters and NZ First were behind the calls for the reform.

“I think straight up what you’re seeing here is the minor parties in this government, particularly NZ First, worried about how they poll,” he told Breakfast.

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“The fact they’re not as popular as they were and so they want to see it come down, that’s what’s really going on here.”

Mr Bridges said National had looked into the lowering of the MMP threshold while they were in Government and felt that five per cent was about right.

“My view is, we looked at this in government and we thought four per cent was about right, but I’d kind of say if you’re going to four per cent, that is tinkering actually, four to five per cent,” he said.

“Why not have the courage of your convictions, let’s throw this out there, why not two or three per cent? Actually let’s be genuinely democratic.”

"So, we’re going to discuss it, but I think there’s a whole lot of stuff that Andrew Little and the Government, Jacinda Ardern, haven’t considered and they should before they jump in on this.”

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Mr Bridges also flagged a concern that holding referendums on cannabis law reform, euthanasia and MMP electoral reform at an election would potentially be too much for people and distracting.

“I think it is something for the Government to think about, whether this many referenda, particularly if they’re doing it at an election, while not saying they’re unimportant, is distracting from the main deal," he said.