MMP+and+Business

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 * By Claudine Mareta**

MMP is the voting system New Zealand adopted in the binding referendum on electoral reform held in 1993. Each voter has two votes, one for a party and one for a local electorate MP. Each party's share of all the seats in Parliament depends on its share of all the part votes, provided the party qualifies by winning at least five percent of all the party votes or wins at least one electorate seat. Each qualifying party receives enough list seats to add to its electorate seats to reach its total entitlements to seats as determined by its party votes. See __Referenda (Postal Voting) Act 2000 Part 5 [|S38]__
 * How can Business change law through the MMP S ystem? **
 * What is the MMP System? **

=Business can WIN AN ELECTION Vote for policies preferred=





There are some common ways you can get your say with central government including via: ☺ Lobbying ☺ A submission to a select committee ☺ Talking or writing a letter to a Minister or your local MP (Member of Parliament).
 * Business can communicate with Central Government **


 * LOBBYING (Direct / Indirect) **Direct lobbying involves meeting face-to-face with political leaders and others of influence, discussing proposals and arguing your cause. [|Lobbying] is important because it provides a vehicle for you to communicate your kaupapa, philosophy, values or beliefs.




 * New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development (NZCID) Building Nations Symposium – 11-12 August 2010, ASB Lounge, Eden Park Stadium, Auckland﻿**

One of the ways you can get your voice heard by government and be part of the decision-making process, is to share your opinion on a new law (all of which start life off as a Bill) or change an old one. This is called making a [|submission to a select committee].
 * SUBMISSIONS to Government (verbal or written) **


 * Select committees **

There are 13 different subject committees (see details below). Each focuses on one of two big national topics like “health” or “justice”. The other five select committees (below) deal with more procedural matters.

☺ [|Commerce] ☺ [|Education and Science] ☺ [|Finance and Expenditure] ☺ [|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade] ☺ [|Government Administration] ☺ [|Health] ☺ [|Justice and Electoral] ☺ [|Law and Order] ☺ [|Local Government and Environments] ☺[| Maori Affairs] ☺ [|Primary Production] ☺ [|Social Services] ☺ [|Transport and Industrial Relations]


 * The current 5 specialist select committees are:**

☺ [|Business] ☺ [|Officers or Parliament] ☺ [|Privileges] ☺ [|Regulations Review] ☺ [|Standing Order]

The New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development (NZCID), chief executive Stephen Selwood explains to allow schools here to be built under the Public Private Partnership (PPPs) method that allows head teachers, teachers and Boards of Trustees to be able to focus their efforts on educational outcomes, letting the private sector take responsibility for finance, construction, operation and maintenance of school facilities. In the United Kingdom and Australia, sourced from the Media Statement dated 21 July 2010 of the (NZCID) News and Events, shows that the partnership approach, when properly implemented, gives rise to better educational outcomes.
 * NZCID submission - New Zealand schools to be Privatised **



=Successful submission with Government= Government Minister Bill English and Minister of Education, Anne Tolley, have taken the next step towards a public-private partnership for building and maintaining some new school property. The first school will be built in Hamilton in 2011.

Enables more proportional representation for the different sectors of NZ. That may mean business may collectively gain or lose influence, depending on the outcome of the elections.
 * What is the impacts of law on business conducted in New Zealand? **
 * Upside to Business **

The legislation might be accommodating for more people if more peoples opinions are taken on board.

Might have to deal with more than one party and it may slow down the process of making law because more parties have a say.
 * Downside to Business **

The Government Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson is setting up a new initiative to promote high productivity among NZ businesses. - A pool of $1 million annually that will fund specialists business consultants to help firms increase their productivity. This will involve getting feedback from management and employees on how they believe they can utilise their skills and time more effectively.
 * More upside for NZ Businesses: **

The Government has moved legislation and changed the Holiday Act where employees will be able to exchange up to one week’s annual holidays for cash from next year.
 * [[image:KIWI_XMAS.JPG width="132" height="130" align="left"]]Holidays**


 * Upside**-Having staff available for an extra week for businesses


 * Downside**-Businesses will have to pay extra week’s leave.

Administered through Government, through a referendum people of NZ, it was decided to change the election system in 1996 from first-past-the-post to MMP.
 * Where does the law come from? **

More information about the MMP system can be found by clicking on the following links:- [|Beehive], [|Elections New Zealand], [|Wikipedia][|Ministry of Justice] [|New Zealand Parliament]
 * Where can you find more information? **