Committee notes
(for further information on an item, please contact the committee via the ‘Email contacts’ panel)
Commerce
The committee conducted the 2005/06 financial review of the Guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and also received a briefing from the outgoing Electricity Commissioner. Next week the committee will conduct the financial reviews of Television New Zealand and Mighty River Power.
Education and Science
At its meeting on 8 November the committee heard evidence from the Ministry of Education as part of its 2005/06 financial review examination of that institution. It also met a delegation of members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
At its next meeting, on 15 November, the committee will hear evidence from the Ministry of Education regarding Ngā Haeata Mātauranga, the annual report on Māori Education. It will also hear evidence from National Library officials as part of its 2005/06 financial review of that institution. Also, evidence will be heard from Group Special Education regarding the committee’s inquiry into making the schooling system work for every child. All hearings of evidence are held in public.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met this week on 8 November to examine the Financial Statements of the Government for the year ended 30 June 2006. As part of this examination, it heard evidence from the Minister of Finance. The committee also heard evidence from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s chief executive on his department’s performance for the 2005/06 financial year.
The committee continued its consideration of the Telecommunications Amendment Bill and the Taxation (Annual Rates, Savings Investment, and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. It also reported to the House on two international treaties—the Convention Establishing the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and the Agreement between New Zealand and the Republic of Austria with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital.
The committee meets next week on 15 November to hear evidence on a proposed amendment to the Taxation (Annual Rates, Savings Investment, and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to tax offshore share investments using a fair dividend rate methodology rather than the rules proposed in the bill. Hearings begin at 10.30 am and are all open to the public. It will also hear evidence from the Inland Revenue Commissioner on his department’s performance for the 2005/06 financial year.
The committee will meet again in the afternoon on 15 November to continue its consideration of the Telecommunications Amendment Bill.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 9 November to hear evidence from Lynne Pillay MP about the Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill. The committee also considered the Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 2), the Accession to the Nice Agreement concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of Registration of Marks; the Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks; the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks; the Agreement Establishing the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. The committee also considered the terms of reference for its inquiry into the implementation of the Pacific Plan. Finally, and hosted a Turkish delegation.
The committee will meet again on 16 November to continue its consideration of all the treaties before it as well as the 2005/06 financial review of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The committee will commence its consideration of the 2005/06 financial review of the New Zealand Customs Service, with the hearing of evidence.
Government Administration
The committee met on 8 November to continue its consideration of the Law Reform (Epidemic Preparedness) Bill, its inquiry into Hate Speech, and the 2005/24 petition of Judy Taylor and 2,648 others. The committee held the hearing for the 2005/06 financial review of Archives New Zealand.
The committee next meets on 15 November, when it will consider the Law Reform (Epidemic Preparedness) Bill and will have the hearing for the 2005/06 financial review of State Services Commission.
Health
At its meeting on 8 November the committee heard evidence on the petition of Kaye Crowther and 53,129 others recommending to the Government that it reinstate specific long-term funding for Plunket’s 0800 PLUNKETLINE, and continued hearing evidence on the petition of Helen Smith to ensure that electro-convulsive treatment is not administered to children, pregnant women and the elderly. The committee then continued hearing evidence on the Inquiry into Obesity and Type Two Diabetes. At its next meeting on 15 November the committee will hear evidence from the Ministry of Health on the financial review of the ministry and hear further evidence from the ministry on the inquiry.
Justice and Electoral
On 9 November the committee continued its consideration of the Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill. It heard evidence on the 2005/06 financial review of the Crown Law Office and on its inquiry into victims’ rights.
On 16 November the committee will continue hearing evidence on its inquiry into victims’ rights (from 10 am to 11 am) and hear evidence on the 2005/06 financial review of the Ministry of Justice (from 11.45 am). These hearings of evidence will be open to the public.
Law and Order
The committee met on 8 November to conduct 2005/06 financial review hearings of the New Zealand Police and the Department of Corrections, and also continued consideration of the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet at 9am on 15 November 2006, to consider the Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill, and continue consideration of the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill. The committee will also consider Petition 2002/174 of Robert Cochrane Fitzgerald, Petition 2005/4 of Dylan and Rex Cordes, Petition 2005/66 of Wayne Pruden and 1003 others, Petition 2005/42 of Paul Daniel Bicknell and 73 others, and Petition 2005/5 of Robyn Elliott and 1108 others.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met this week to conduct the financial review of the Department of Conservation, to consider the Manukau City Council (Control of Graffiti) Bill and the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill.
Next week the committee will again consider the Graffiti Bill, conduct the financial review of the Ministry for the Environment and hear evidence from Nandor Tanczos on his Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill.
Māori Affairs
This week, the committee met on 8 November, to consider the Māori Purposes Bill. The committee will next meet on 15 November 2006, to further consider the Māori Purposes Bill.
Primary Production
The committee met this week on 9 November to hear evidence from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on its 2005/06 financial review. The committee also met with a visiting Parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Turkey.
Next week, the committee will meet on 16 November to hear evidence from Land Information New Zealand and the Ministry of Fisheries on their 2005/06 financial reviews. The meeting will be open to the public between 10.30am and 11.30am, and between 12.00pm and 1.00pm.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 8 November and considered investigations of statutory regulations, deemed regulations, regulation making powers in bills and the complaint regarding Taupo Airport User Charges 1997.
The committee will next meet on 15 November to consider investigations of statutory regulations, the inquiry regarding Affirmative Resolution Procedure and the complaint regarding Taupo Airport User Charges 1997.
Social Services
The committee met on 8 November to hear evidence on the 2005/06 financial review of the Department of Building and Housing. The committee also furthered its consideration of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet on 22 November to further its consideration of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill. It will also hear evidence on the 2005/06 financial reviews of the Department of Child Youth and Family Services and the Ministry of Social Development. This will be open to the public from 10.15 am – 12.45 am.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 9 November to consider the financial review of the department of Labour and to hear evidence on the Minimum Wage (Abolition of Age Discrimination) Amendment Bill. The committee will next meet on 16 November to hear evidence on the financial review of the Department of Labour, to consider the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill, and to continue hearing evidence on the Minimum Wage (Abolition of Age Discrimination) Amendment Bill.
