Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 19 July to consider the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Economic Development, Vote Tourism, Vote Communications, and Vote Consumer Affairs. The committee also considered the Consumer Law Reform Bill.
The committee will next meet on 26 July to further consider the Consumer Law Reform Bill, the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill, and the Financial Market Conduct Bill.
Education and Science
The committee met this week on 18 July to hear evidence from the New Zealand Teachers Council on the 2010/11 financial review of the New Zealand Teachers Council, and from the Hon Hekia Parata, Minister of Education, on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Education and Vote Education Review Office. The committee also considered the inquiry into Pacific languages in early childhood education.
The committee will next meet on 24 July to consider the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Education, Vote Education Review Office, Vote Science and Innovation, and Vote Tertiary Education. The committee will also meet on 25 July to hear evidence on the inquiry into 21st century learning environments and digital literacy. The hearing of evidence will be open to the public.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 18 July to hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, the Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products – Budget Measures) Amendment Bill, and the 2010/11 financial review of Air New Zealand.
The committee will next meet on 24 July to consider the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Audit and Vote Canterbury Earthquake Recovery.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
This week the committee considered the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Customs, Vote Defence, Vote Defence Force, Vote Veterans’ Affairs – Defence Force, and Vote Veterans’ Affairs – Social Development. The Committee also heard evidence on and considered the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote Official Development Assistance.
The committee will next meet on 2 August.
Government Administration
The committee met on 18 June, and further considered the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill. It also completed its consideration of the 2012/13 Estimates.
The committee will next meet on 25 July when it will further consider the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill, and also hold a hearing of evidence on the bill.
Health
The committee met on 18 July to consider the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Health, and the Natural Health Products Bill and the Medicines Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet on 25 July to continue its consideration of the Natural Health Products Bill and the Medicines Amendment Bill.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 18 July to receive a visit from a delegation from the Parliament of Vietnam, and to consider the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Attorney-General, Vote Parliamentary Counsel, Vote Justice, and Vote Courts. The committee also heard further evidence on its inquiry into the 2011 general election. The committee also considered the petition of Peter McKenzie on behalf of the Barnabas Fund (NZ).
The committee will meet next on 26 July when it will consider the inquiry into the 2011 general election, and the Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill.
Law and Order
The committee met on 18 July to consider the Administration of Community Sentences and Orders Bill and the Bail Amendment Bill. The committee also considered the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Corrections, Vote Police, and Vote Serious Fraud.
The committee also met with a delegation from the Parliament of Vietnam to discuss Parliament’s role in the law and legal system and measures around anti-corruption.
The committee will next meet on 25 July to further consider the Bail Amendment Bill and the Corrections Amendment Bill.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 19 July to further consider the Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill, the Manukau City Council (Regulation of Prostitution in Specified Places) Bill, and the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Conservation. The committee heard evidence from submitters on the Game Animal Council Bill and the Building Amendment Bill (No 4).
The committee will hear evidence from submitters on the Building Amendment Bill (No.4) and Game Animal Council Bill at its next meeting on 26 July.
Māori Affairs
The committee met on 18 July to hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Treaty Negotiations from the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. It also considered the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Māori Affairs, the Ngāti Manuhiri Claims Settlement Bill, and the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Claims Settlement Bill.
When the committee next meets on 25 July it will hear evidence on its inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Māori children. This hearing will be open to the public.
Officers of Parliament
The committee met on 19 July and initiated two inquiries; the inquiry into the appointment of an auditor for the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General, and the inquiry into the appointment of an Ombudsman.
Primary Production
The committee met on 19 July to complete consideration of the 2012/13 Estimates of Appropriations. It also further considered the petition of G R Hughey.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 19 July to consider Orders in Council made under the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010 and Orders in Council made under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011, and a number of statutory regulations. The committee also considered the regulation-making powers in the Natural Health Products Bill.
The committee will next meet on 26 July to consider Orders in Council made under the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010 and Orders in Council made under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011, and a number of statutory regulations.
Social Services
The committee met on 18 July to consider and hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Social Development, and Vote Housing. Hon Tariana Turia, the Minister for Disability Issues, appeared to give evidence on Vote Social Development, and Hon Maurice Williamson, the Minister for Building and Construction, appeared to give evidence on Vote Housing. Both hearings of evidence were held in public.
The committee then considered the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Senior Citizens, and Vote Internal Affairs: Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, as well as the Child Support Amendment Bill, and its inquiry into boarding houses in New Zealand.
On 19 July the committee presented its reports to the House on all four of the 2012/13 Estimates that it had before it: Vote Social Development, Vote Housing, Vote Senior Citizens, and Vote Internal Affairs: Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector. Copies of the committee’s reports are available on the Parliament website.
The committee will next meet on 25 July to consider and hear evidence on the Child Support Amendment Bill. Hearings of evidence are being held in Wellington at Parliament from 10.00am to 10.40am, and again from 11.00 to 12.45am. The meeting will be open to the public during the hearings of evidence.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met this week on 19 July consider the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Immigration, Vote Labour, and Vote Transport. The committee also heard evidence on and considered the Immigration Amendment Bill.
The committee is currently not expected to meet next week.
