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United Future New Zealand

Policy development process

Rationale:

Those who join a political party, do so because they care about issues and want to be part of the solution.

They have opinions that they believe are commonly held with others of the same ilk. They quickly lose interest if they feel disconnected from or ignored by those that drive the brand they have loyalty to.

There are also those who are not members of a political party but who have policy ideas that they are wanting at least some political parties to consider and include.

Policy Ideas from PARTY MEMBERS:

These are held by both individuals and small groups within the party. Some are well thought out, others are merely germs that need working on. A clear process needs to be developed and communicated so that all members know that their ideas will be considered, and how they are to go about presenting ideas for consideration.

Process:

  1. Ideas need to be presented as a WRITTEN PAPER, and signed by the member/s who developed the paper. Contact details to facilitate consultation must be included of those taking responsibility for the paper. The paper can suggest new policy ideas or amendments to existing policy in some way. Guidelines may need to be developed to help folk check their ideas against our party principles and current policy direction.
  2. This paper can then be either delivered orally at a REGIONAL CONFERENCE or just handed on to the POLICY CO-ORDINATOR who acknowledges receipt of the paper in writing and explains the process that will now be followed; then organises further work and consideration to be done by special board and caucus appointed POLICY DEVELOPMENT TEAMS.
  3. The POLICY DEVELOPMENT TEAMS could include an appropriate member of caucus or appointed spokesperson, and about 4 party members with experience and expertise in the policy area. These teams meet yearly at National conference, but do most of their work by e-mail, discussing ideas put to them in papers, keeping the author of the paper informed of how their paper is viewed. These teams are also able to look at issues within their portfolio, other than those submitted in papers by members, but must respond to papers in a timely way. Poorly thought through ideas need to be returned with comments and question for the author to consider, and possibly an invitation to re-submit any improvements
  4. POLICY DEVELOPMENT TEAMS then develop POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS to caucus for consideration. These recommendations must include an acknowledgement of the papers that contributed to the process.
  5. Caucus has the final say on which recommendations are to be included in the United Future Policy Framework.
    Thanks and acknowledgement should be sent to those who have contributed.

Policy Ideas from NON-MEMBERS

These suggestions can come from individuals and groups and generally are bought to the attention of caucus members with the appropriate portfolio responsibility. Depending on the issue, caucus can take one of two options.
  1. Do the appropriate policy work within the parliamentary unit OR
  2. Send the idea to the Party Policy Team covering that portfolio requesting they consider the proposal and furnish caucus with a recommendation to consider.

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