Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 11 February to consider the Patents Bill, the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill and their inquiry into finance company failures. It also considered the 2008/09 financial review of the Ministry of Economic Development, Solid Energy Limited, Transpower Limited and the non-departmental appropriations for Acquisition of Petroleum Data - Extension, for Development of Reserve Electricity Generation Capacity, and for Maintenance and Operation of Whirinaki. It heard evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
The committee will next meet on 18 February to consider and hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of Radio New Zealand Limited, the Broadcasting Commission, and Kordia Group Limited. These hearings are open to the public. The 2008/09 financial review of Transpower New Zealand Limited, Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, and the Accounting Standards Review Board will also be considered.
Education and Science
The committee met on 10 February to hear evidence and consider the 2008/09 financial review of Landcare Research New Zealand Limited, the New Zealand Teachers Council, and Career Services.
The committee will next meet on 17 February to hear evidence and consider the 2008/09 financial review of the Tertiary Education Commission, and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 10 February to hear evidence on the Budget Policy Statement 2010 and consider other items of business before it.
It will next meet on 17 February to consider the Electricity Industry Bill and the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Bill, and to consider and hear evidence on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 11 February to consider a briefing on the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, and the petitions of Uma Naguleswaran, Mani Maniparathy, Dr Mei Meiyalaghan, Ramesh Manicavasagar, Neil Ahilakumaran, Sinniah Ilanko, Charmaine Deng for the Falun Dafa Association of New Zealand, and Edwina Hughes. The committee also considered its briefings on general matters related to foreign affairs, on the performance audit of NZAID, on the visit of the Mexican Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the visit of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, Parliament of Australia, on the visit of the President of the Australian Senate. It also considered a report from the Controller and Auditor-General on New Zealand Defence Force: Progress with the Defence Sustainability Initiative, 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.
The committee will next meet on 18 February to consider the petitions of Charmaine Deng for the Falun Dafa Association of New Zealand, Sinniah Ilanko, and a briefing from the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Director of the United Nations Development Fund. It will also hear evidence and consider 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 10 February to hear evidence on and consider the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission. It also considered the Statutes Amendment Bill, and the 2008/09 financial review of the Department of Internal Affairs, the State Services Commission, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, and Archives New Zealand.
The committee will next meet on 17 February to consider the 2008/09 financial review of Sport and Recreation New Zealand, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board, the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (Pouhere Taonga), the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Drug Free Sport New Zealand, and the Office of Film and Literature Classification.
Health
The committee met on 10 February and heard evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the Auckland District Health Board. It also continued its consideration of the 2008/09 financial review of the Ministry of Health, and the Lakes District Health Board.
The committee will next meet on 17 February to hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, and South Canterbury District Health Board.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 11 February to hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the Legal Services Agency, and the Search and Surveillance Bill, and consider other business before it.
Next week the committee will hear evidence on the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill, and consider other business.
Law and Order
The committee met on 10 February to consider and deliberate on the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Police, the Department of Corrections and the Serious Fraud Office. These reports were presented to the House on 12 February. It also considered the Arms Amendment Bill (No 3), and the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill.
The committee will next meet on 17 February to further consider the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill and hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 11 February to consider the 2008/09 financial review of the Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and non-departmental appropriations for the NZ Biodiversity Advisory Fund, Identification and Implementation of Protection for Natural and Historic Places, Sustainable Management Fund, Rotorua Lakes Restoration Programme, and Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund. It also heard evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, and considered the Sustainable Biofuel Bill, and a number of petitions.
The committee will next meet on 18 February to hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, and to consider the Public Works (Offer Back of and Compensation for Acquired Land) Amendment Bill.
Māori Affairs
The committee met on 10 February to consider the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill, 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. It also considered its inquiry into the tobacco industry in Aotearoa and the consequences of tobacco use for Māori, and its briefing on bariatric surgery and its benefits for Māori.
The committee will next meet on 17 February in Marton to hear evidence on 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.
Primary Production
The committee met on 11 February to hear evidence on and consider the Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk Pricing Methods) Bill. It also considered the petition of David Mark Wills, and the 2008/09 financial review of AsureQuality, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, the Ministry of Fisheries, Land Information New Zealand, and the non-departmental appropriations for Control of TB Vectors, and Management of Crown Forestry Assets.
Next week the committee will consider and hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of Quotable Value Limited, and will continue its consideration of the Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk Pricing Methods) Bill.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 11 February to consider recently promulgated statutory regulations and deemed regulations and the complaint regarding Land Transport Rule - Vehicle Equipment Amendment 2007 (Rule 32017/2).
The committee will next meet on 18 February to consider recently promulgated statutory and deemed regulations and the report by the New Zealand delegation to the Australia-New Zealand Scrutiny of Legislation Conference: Scrutiny and Accountability in the 21st Century.
Social Services
The committee met on 10 February to consider the 2008/09 financial review of the Ministry of Social Development, Housing New Zealand Corporation, the Charities Commission, the Children’s Commissioner, the Families Commission, and the Retirement Commissioner.
The committee will not meet next week.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 9 February to consider the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill. A report to the House was presented on 12 February. The committee also met on 11 February to consider further the 2008/09 financial review of the Accident Compensation Corporation, and the Civil Aviation Authority.
At its next meeting on 18 February the committee will hear evidence on the 2008/09 financial review of the New Zealand Railways Corporation.
