Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on Thursday, and considered the inquiry into the price of milk and considered and heard evidence on the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Broadcasting Standards Authority and Radio New Zealand. The committee also deliberated on the reports for the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Accounting Standards Review Board, the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Limited, the Government Superannuation Fund, Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, Kordia Group Limited, the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited, New Zealand Post Limited, the Public Trust, the Real Estate Agents Authority, the Securities Commission, the Standards Council, the Takeovers Panel, and the Testing Laboratory Registration Council. The committee also considered the Consumer Law Reform Bill and has called for submissions on the bill with a closing date of Thursday, 29 March 2012.
The committee will next meet on 1 March to further consider 2010/11 financial reviews.
Education and Science
The committee met on Wednesday to hear evidence from ombudsman David McGee on his report on Complaints Arising out of Bullying at Hutt Valley High School in December 2007, and also heard evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Ministry of Science and Innovation. The committee also considered the petition of Judy Taligalu McFall-McCaffery and John McCaffery, and the 2010/11 financial review of the New Zealand Teachers Council.
The committee will not be meeting next week.
Finance and Expenditure
The Finance and Expenditure met on Wednesday to hear evidence on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Returns Filing, and Remedial Matters) Bill, and the 2010/11 financial review of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The committee will next meet on 29 February when it will hear further evidence on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Returns Filing, and Remedial Matters) Bill. The committee will also hear from the Minister of Finance and the Treasury on the 2010/11 financial review of the Treasury and the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2011.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on Thursday to further consider the petition of Edwina Hughes and 904 others, the petition of Helen Kelly on behalf of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, and the International Treaty Examination of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. It also conducted the briefing from the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.
The committee also initiated two briefings, one from the Hong Kong Department of Trade and Industry, and one on major defence projects.
The committee will not be meeting next week.
Government Administration
The committee met on Wednesday, and heard evidence on the Crown Entities Reform Bill and considered the Electronic Identity Verification Bill. The committee also heard evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Office of the Ombudsmen.
The committee will next meet on 29 February, when it will hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Department of Internal Affairs and continue hearing evidence on the Crown Entities Reform Bill.
Health
The committee met on Wednesday to consider a number of financial reviews. The committee also initiated a briefing on English language proficiency tests with reference to non-English speaking health professionals seeking registration in New Zealand
The committee will next meet on 29 February to hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Ministry of Health and the non-departmental appropriations for Vote Health. The hearings of evidence will be open to the public. The committee will also further consider the Natural Health Products Bill
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on Thursday to hear submissions on the Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill. It heard from a number of organisations and individuals, including the New Zealand Law Society, the Criminal Bar Association, the Legislation Advisory Committee, and the Family Court.
The committee will next meet on 1 March to hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Ministry of Justice, and to consider the Victims of Crime Reform Bill, and the Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill.
Law and Order
The committee met on Wednesday. The committee considered the Arms Amendment Bill (No 3), and the 2010/11 financial reviews of the New Zealand Police, the Department of Corrections, the Serious Fraud Office, and the Independent Police Conduct Authority. It also considered aspects of the briefing on Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services, and the briefing from New Zealand Police on the Prevention First strategy, both initiated by the committee at its meeting on 8 February 2012.
The committee will meet next on 29 February when it will hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Department of Corrections. This hearing will be open to the public.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on Thursday to consider the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Department of Conservation, the Ministry for the Environment, the New Zealand Walking Access Commission, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, the Environmental Risk Management Authority, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and non-departmental appropriations for Vote Conservation and Vote Environment. The committee also heard evidence on the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill from the following entities: Österreichische Mineralölverwaltung (OMV) New Zealand, Chatham Rock Phosphate, Chatham Rock Phosphate, Manu Caddie, Pacific Fibre, Todd Energy, Joint Deepwater Group and Seafood Industry Council, Ngatiwai Trust Board, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Te Runanga o Ngati Porou, Te Ohu Kaimoana Trustees, Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngapuhi, New Zealand Rock Lobster Industry Council, the Paua Industry Council, Anadarko New Zealand Company, New Zealand Mineral Industry Association, Friends of Nelson Haven and Tasman Bay, and Trans-Tasman Resources.
The committee will next meet on 1 March.
Māori Affairs
The Māori Affairs Committee met on Wednesday to hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the non-departmental appropriations for Vote Māori Affairs (Whānau Ora). The committee also heard evidence on its briefing on rent reviews of Māori Reserved Land and considered its inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Māori children.
When the committee next meets on 29 February it will hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Ministry of Maori Development and the non-departmental appropriations for Vote Māori Affairs. The hearing of evidence will be open to the public. The committee will also begin its consideration of the Ngai Tāmanuhiri Claims Settlement Bill and the Ngāti Mākino Claims Settlement Bill.
Primary Production
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will next meet on 1 March to hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The hearings of evidence will be open to the public.
Regulations Review
The committee met on Thursday to consider Orders in Council made under the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2011, a number of statutory regulations, and matters of general business.
The committee is not meeting next week.
The committee will next meet on 1 March to consider a number of statutory regulations.
Social Services
The committee met on Wednesday to hear evidence from the Inland Revenue Department on the petition of Moana Rule. It also considered two reports from the Controller and Auditor-General; the report on the Inquiry into the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board, and the report on Home-based support services for older people. The committee concluded its consideration on the report on the Inquiry into the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board and presented a report to the House on 16 February. The report is available on the Parliament website. The committee heard evidence from the Office of the Auditor-General on its report on Home-based support services for older people.
The committee is not meeting next week.
The committee will next meet on 29 February to consider its inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation, and care and protection of child offenders, and to consider and hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Ministry of Social Development, as well as the 2010/11 financial review of non-departmental appropriations for Vote Social Development, and for Vote Youth Development. These three items of business are being considered together. The meeting will be open to the public from 11.30am to 12.45pm.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met this week to hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Department of Labour. The committee also considered a number of petitions.
The committee will meet next on 29 February.
