Committee notes
Auckland Governance Legislation
The committee did not meet this week.
Commerce
The committee met on 18 March to hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the Standards Council, and the Public Trust. The committee also considered the financial reviews of Genesis Power Limited, Meridian Energy Limited, Mighty River Power Limited, the Broadcasting Standards Authority, the Earthquake Commission, the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Limited, the Government Superannuation Fund Authority, and the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Limited. The committee considered three bills—the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill, the Financial Service Providers (Pre-Implementation Adjustments) Bill, and the Patents Bill.
The committee has agreed to consider, alongside the Financial Service Providers (Pre-Implementation Adjustments) Bill, proposed amendments on Supplementary Order Paper 113. The committee has made a call for public submissions on the SOP. The closing date for submissions on the proposed amendments is 15 April 2010. The closing date for submissions on the Financial Service Providers (Pre-Implementation Adjustments) Bill remains 25 March 2010.
The committee will next meet on 25 March.
Education and Science
The committee met on 17 March to further consider the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, the New Zealand Teachers Council, Career Services, Landcare Research New Zealand Limited, and the Tertiary Education Commission. The committee also considered the petition of Lynne Pillay and 1,469 others.
The committee will next meet on 24 March to hear evidence on its briefing on the review of special education services, and the petitions of Maryan Street, Damien O’Connor, Kathryn Sclater and Sue Kedgley. The committee will hear evidence on the report from the Controller and Auditor-General on Ministry of Education: Managing support for students with high special educational needs, and will further consider the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Teachers Council, and Landcare Research New Zealand Limited.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 17 March to hear evidence on the Electricity Industry Bill, and consider the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill.
It will next meet on 24 March to conclude hearing evidence on Electricity Industry Bill, and to continue its consideration of other items of business before it.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 18 March to hear evidence on its briefing on the Defence Review ’09. It considered the petition of Charmaine Deng for the Falun Dafa Association of New Zealand, the briefing from the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Director of the United Nations Development Fund. It also considered international treaty examinations of the Agreement Between The Government Of New Zealand And The Government Of The United States Of America On Science And Technology Cooperation Contributing To Domestic And External Security Capabilities, and 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 committee also considered its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific countries.
The committee will next meet on 25 March to consider the briefing on the Defence Review ’09, and the international treaty examination of the Agreement Between The Government Of New Zealand And The Government Of The United States Of America On Science And Technology Cooperation Contributing To Domestic And External Security Capabilities.
Government Administration
The committee met on 17 March to hear evidence and consider the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Historic Places (Pouhere Taonga). It also considered the Statutes Amendment Bill, the 2008/09 financial review of Sport and Recreation New Zealand, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
The committee will next meet on 24 March to hear evidence on and consider the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission. It will also consider the Statutes Amendment Bill, the Christ's College (Canterbury) Amendment Bill, and the 2008/09 financial review of the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, the New Zealand Film Commission, Drug Free Sport New Zealand, and the Office of Film and Literature Classification.
Health
The committee met on 17 March to hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the MidCentral District Health Board, and the Whanganui District Health Board. The committee also considered the notice of motion regarding the Misuse of Drugs (Classification of Ketamine) Order 2009 and the Misuse of Drugs (Presumption of Supply-Ketamine) Order 2009. It also heard evidence on its briefing from the Health and Disability Commissioner.
The committee will next meet on 24 March to resume consideration of its inquiry into early detection and treatment of prostate cancer, and its inquiry into how to improve completion rates of childhood immunisation. The committee will also consider the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (Storage) Amendment Bill, and hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of Capital and Coast District Health Board.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 18 March to consider the Search and Surveillance Bill, the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill, the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Bill, the Limitation Bill, and the 2008/09 financial review of the Legal Services Agency. The committee also considered the petitions of Jane Prichard, Sue Rowe, and Phillida Bunkle.
The committee will next meet on 25 March to hear evidence on the petition of Neale McMillan. The committee will also consider the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill, the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Bill, the Limitation Bill, and the petitions of Jane Prichard, Sue Rowe, and Phillida Bunkle.
Law and Order
The committee met on 15 March and 18 March to consider the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill.
The committee will next meet on 24 March to further consider the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 18 March to hear evidence on and consider the Public Works (Offer Back of and Compensation for Acquired Land) Amendment Bill, and to consider a number of petitions.
The committee will next meet on 25 March to hear evidence on the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on Stockton revisited: The mine and the regulatory minefield. It will also hear evidence on two petitions opposed to the inclusion of North Rodney in the proposed new Auckland Council.
Māori Affairs
The committee met on 16 March to consider the Ngāti Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Bill and the Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill. On 17 March the committee met to consider and hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency), and Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission). The committee also considered the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill.
The committee will meet on 24 March to hear evidence on its 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. It will also consider the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill, its briefing on bariatric surgery and its benefits for Māori, and the petition of Peter Henry Edward Bloomer.
Officers of Parliament
The committee met on 18 March to consider the 2010/11 draft budgets for the Office of the Controller and Auditor General, the Office of the Ombudsmen, and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and alterations to the 2009/10 appropriations for Vote Audit, Vote Ombudsmen, and Vote Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
The committee will next meet on 25 March to further consider the 2010/11 draft budgets for the Office of the Controller and Auditor General, the Office of the Ombudsmen, and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and alterations to the 2009/10 appropriations for Vote Audit, Vote Ombudsmen, and Vote Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Primary Production
The committee met on 18 March to hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of AsureQuality Limited, and to consider the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, and the 2008/09 financial review of Quotable Value Limited, Animal Control Products Limited, and Landcorp Farming Limited.
The committee will next meet on 25 March to consider and hear evidence on the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, and to consider the petition of David Mark Wills.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 18 March to consider recently promulgated statutory regulations, and the complaint regarding the New Zealand (Mandatory Fortification of Bread with Folic Acid) Amendment Food Standard 2009.
The committee will next meet on 25 March 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 17 March to hear evidence on the report from the Controller and Auditor-General on Ministry of Social Development: Changes to the case management of sickness and invalids’ beneficiaries, and to consider its inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation, and care and protection of child offenders.
The committee will not meet next week.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 18 March to hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Transport Agency. It also considered several petitions.
At its next meeting on 25 March the committee will consider further the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Railways Corporation.
