Tuesday, 05 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business

MMP leads to divisive government

NZ Herald
16 Nov, 2011 04:30 PM2 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
File photo / NZPA

File photo / NZPA

A majority of CEOs - 65 per cent - want New Zealand to scrap the mixed member proportional (MMP) voting system.

MMP does not aid the election of a decisive government capable of making tough decisions because "the senior party has to agree to too many compromises to attain power," says Martin Simons, chief executive New Zealand Media for Herald publisher APN.

Twenty-five per cent of survey respondents want MMP to remain. Ten per cent say they are unsure whether it should be kept. South Pacific Pictures CEO John Barnett cautions that New Zealand needs a system which acknowledges the mix of views that exists, "but which doesn't hold the country to ransom and create a short term attitude to legislation".

Others noted New Zealand was unlikely to see the major reform of any policy that might be unpopular at the time - but best for New Zealand in the long run - because MMP tends to result in coalition governments.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

MMP will be put to the test during a referendum at the November 26 election.

If New Zealand does vote to scrap MMP, one-third of the CEO respondents want First Past the Post to be reinstated. This is the "winner takes all" system in place before New Zealand switched to proportional representation at the 1996 election.

The single transferable vote (STV) option was supported by 23 per cent. But those who were unsure (21 per cent) out-ranked those who opted for preferential voting (13 per cent) and the supplementary member system (10 per cent).

There is support for changing MMP, if it is retained. A company chairman suggests two basic changes: Lifting the threshold for representation from 5 per cent of the list votes to 10 per cent, and, removing the parties' entitlement to get list MPs into Parliament with just one electorate seat when the threshold for list representation has not been met. "One electorate seat should mean one electorate seat - it should not translate into an automatic percentage entitlement to party votes qualifying for seats."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Related articles

Business

Fran O'Sullivan: Top marks for the circuses, now what about the bread?

16 Nov 04:30 PM
Business

Brian Fallow: Heading for a slowdown

16 Nov 04:30 PM
Business

Get with the programme, Phil (if you win)

16 Nov 04:30 PM
Politics

Neville Peat: MMP fairest system of them all

17 Nov 04:30 PM
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Business

Market close: NZ stocks continue to drift while Aussies keep cash rate on hold

05 Dec 05:15 AM
Premium
Business

Big payday for Hirepool shareholders

05 Dec 03:13 AM
Premium
Business

Cost of living hits customers as Woolworths NZ's profits slashed

05 Dec 03:05 AM
Premium
Business

Three retirement village issues NZ Shareholders Association is considering

05 Dec 03:02 AM

Navigating the ‘decade of uncertainty’

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Market close: NZ stocks continue to drift while Aussies keep cash rate on hold

Market close: NZ stocks continue to drift while Aussies keep cash rate on hold

05 Dec 05:15 AM

The S&P/NZX 50 Index ended the day lower.

Premium
Big payday for Hirepool shareholders

Big payday for Hirepool shareholders

05 Dec 03:13 AM
Premium
Cost of living hits customers as Woolworths NZ's profits slashed

Cost of living hits customers as Woolworths NZ's profits slashed

05 Dec 03:05 AM
Premium
Three retirement village issues NZ Shareholders Association is considering

Three retirement village issues NZ Shareholders Association is considering

05 Dec 03:02 AM
How to make a win-win-win from waste
sponsored

How to make a win-win-win from waste

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP