KEY POINTS:
The life of a business lobbyist is not necessarily a lonely one.
Each week, Business New Zealand chief Phil O'Reilly meets at least half a dozen times with various Cabinet ministers; not to mention dozens of officials, boffins and bureaucrats. If only other lobbyists were so blessed.
Nine years of hard Labour has seen no noticeable reduction in the number of businesspeople trying to influence the powers-that-be. But are the politicians - and the boffins and bureaucrats - listening?
"Even to this day, there's not much deep understanding of how business works," an exasperated O'Reilly told the Business Herald this year. "It's not that they're not trying. I sit with them for hours and try and explain how business works and sometimes it's successful in getting them to understand that, but the fact that we have to go through that many times every week is indicative of a wider problem."
Nevertheless, a change of Government could well see a shift in who gets listened to in Wellington.
Former National Party press secretary Matthew Hooton, whose firm Exceltium has recently hired some heavy hitters, is one lobbyist who is no doubt praying for change.
You would also have to assume that Federated Farmers will be well placed if that occurs, given that its new chief, Conor English, is Bill English's little brother.
It will also be interesting to see whether public law firm Chen Palmer remains as busy as it has been. Co-founder Mai Chen insists the secret of her success is results, but even though he has since moved on, there is no doubt that ex-Labour PM Sir Geoffrey Palmer has also been very influential behind the scenes, most noticeably over the recent decision (since put on hold) to scrap the Serious Fraud Office.
The Business Roundtable might be expected to be welcomed in from the wilderness, although it is questionable how much longer spokesman Roger Kerr will be its public face.
There has been hushed talk of merging the organisation with the more moderate New Zealand Institute - a move that could yet happen if the institute succeeds in hiring a replacement for David Skilling.
Skilling has had mixed success influencing MPs, and whoever takes over his role has a big challenge ahead should Labour remain in power. Although his joint action plan with NZX chief executive Mark Weldon looked rather like a last-ditch attempt to persuade politicians to see the bigger picture, a canny Government would nevertheless take notice.
Somewhat frustrated after just three years in the job, Skilling is practising what he preaches by going with the international flow. He is moving to Singapore.
