Committee notes
Auckland Governance Legislation
The committee met on 20 April to hear evidence on and consider the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill.
The committee will next meet on 28 April to continue its consideration of the bill.
Commerce
The committee met on 22 April to consider its inquiry into finance company failures, the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill, and the Financial Service Providers (Pre-Implementation Adjustments) Bill. The committee also considered the 2008/09 financial reviews of the Commerce Commission, the Standards Council, the New Zealand Tourism Board, and Radio New Zealand Limited.
The committee will next meet on 29 April.
Education and Science
The committee met on 21 April to hear evidence on the petitions of Dr Muriel Newman, and Aaron Gilmore. The committee further considered the petitions of the Hon Maryan Street, the Hon Damien O’Connor, Kathryn Sclater, and Sue Kedgley, the briefing on the review of special education services, and the report from the Controller and Auditor-General on Ministry of Education: Managing support for students with high special educational needs. The committee also considered the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill, and the petition of Lynne Pillay.
The committee will next meet on 28 April to hear evidence on the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 21 April to consider the Electricity Industry Bill, the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Bill, the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill, and other items of business before it.
It will next meet on Wednesday 28 April to hear evidence on the Report from the Controller and Auditor-General on The Auditor-General’s views on setting financial reporting standards for the public sector, and to consider other items of business before it.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 22 April to consider the Tariff (Malaysia Free Trade Agreement) Amendment Bill. It also considered the international treaty examinations of the Exchange of Letters Constituting an Amendment to the Agreement between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Australia Concerning a Joint Food Standards System; the New Zealand – Hong Kong, China Closer Economic Partnership Agreement, the Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Cooperation Between New Zealand and Hong Kong, China; and the Exchange of Letters on the Conclusion of an Investment Protocol to the New Zealand – Hong Kong, China Closer Economic Partnership Agreement. The committee considered the petitions of Hon Chris Carter, and Edwina Hughes. It also considered the briefing from the Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand from the European Parliament, and its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific countries.
The committee will next meet on 29 April to consider the international treaty examinations of the Exchange of Letters Constituting an Amendment to the Agreement between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Australia Concerning a Joint Food Standards System; the New Zealand – Hong Kong, China Closer Economic Partnership Agreement; the Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Cooperation Between New Zealand and Hong Kong, China; the Exchange of Letters on the Conclusion of an Investment Protocol to the New Zealand – Hong Kong, China Closer Economic Partnership Agreement; and the New Zealand – Hong Kong, China Environment Cooperation Agreement. It will also consider the briefing from the Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand from the European Parliament, and its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific countries.
Government Administration
The committee met on 21 April to consider the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (Pouhere Taonga), and the New Zealand Fire Service Commission.
When the committee meets next it will consider the Christ's College (Canterbury) Amendment Bill.
Health
The committee met on 21 April to consider its inquiry into how to improve completion rates of childhood immunisation. It also considered the 2008/09 financial reviews of the Auckland District Health Board, the South Canterbury District Health Board, the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, the Counties Manukau District Health Board, and Capital and Coast District Health Board.
The committee will next meet on 28 April to hear evidence on its inquiry into how to improve completion rates of childhood immunisation, and to consider the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (Storage) Amendment Bill, and the 2008/09 financial reviews of the Capital and Coast District Health Board, the MidCentral District Health Board, the Whanganui District Health Board, and the Crown Health Financing Agency.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met 22 April to hear evidence on the report from the Controller and Auditor-General on Ministry of Justice: Supporting the management of court workloads, the Child and Family Protection Bill, and the Courts (Remote Participation) Bill. It also considered the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill, and the Limitation Bill.
The committee will next meet on 29 April to hear further evidence on the Child and Family Protection Bill. The committee will also consider the Courts (Remote Participation) Bill, the Limitation Bill, and the petitions of Neale McMillan, Sue Rowe, and Phillida Bunkle.
Law and Order
The committee did not meet this week.
It will next meet on 28 April.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 22 April to consider the 2008/09 financial review of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, and the petitions of William Reid Townson, and John Kenneth Turner on behalf of the Wellsford Community Group.
The committee will next meet on 29 April to consider the petitions of William Reid Townson, and John Kenneth Turner on behalf of the Wellsford Community Group.
Māori Affairs
The committee met on 21 April to hear evidence on the inquiry into the tobacco industry in Aotearoa and the consequences of tobacco use for Māori. It also considered the 2008/09 financial reviews of Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency), and Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), and the inquiry into the operation of the Māori Community Development Act 1962 and related issues.
The committee will next meet on 28 April to hear evidence on the inquiry into the financial performance and current operations of Māori Television Service for the financial year ending 30 June 2009. This hearing will be open to the public.
Primary Production
The committee met on 22 April to hear evidence on the briefing on agricultural education in New Zealand. It also considered the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, and the 2008/09 financial review of AsureQuality Limited, and the New Zealand Walking Access Commission.
The committee will next meet on 29 April to consider and hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Walking Access Commission.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 21 April to hear evidence on the complaint regarding the New Zealand (Mandatory Fortification of Bread with Folic Acid) Amendment Food Standard 2009. The committee also met on 22 April to consider recently promulgated statutory regulations.
The committee will next meet on 29 April to consider recently promulgated statutory and deemed regulations, and the complaint regarding Land Transport Rule - Vehicle Equipment Amendment 2007 (Rule 32017/2).
Social Services
The committee met on 21 April to hear evidence on the report of the Controller and Auditor-General on Ministry of Social Development: Changes to the case management of sickness and invalids’ beneficiaries, and its inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation, and care and protection of child offenders. The committee also considered the petition of Lillian Franklin and 1 other.
The committee will next meet on 28 April to hear further evidence on its inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation, and care and protection of child offenders, and to consider the Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 22 April to consider further the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Transport Agency, a briefing on integrated ticketing, and several petitions.
At its next meeting on 29 April the committee will hear evidence on its briefing on integrated ticketing, and the international treaty examination of the Convention On International Interests In Mobile Equipment and of the Protocol To The Convention On International Interests In Mobile Equipment On Matters Specific To Aircraft Equipment.
