Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 6 September to begin consideration of and hear evidence on the Regulatory Responsibility Bill, and consider a number of petitions. The committee will meet on 13 September to hear further submissions on the inquiry into housing affordability in New Zealand and on the Regulatory Responsibility Bill, and will continue the consideration of the petitions.
Education and Science
The committee met on 5 September, when it heard evidence on its inquiry into making the schooling system work for every child.
The committee will meet on 12 September to consider the Education (Tertiary Reforms) Amendment Bill. The committee will also hear evidence on its inquiry into making the schooling system work for every child.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 5 September to hear evidence on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Business Taxation, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill and the inquiry into the future monetary policy framework. It also considered the proposed change to the format of estimates and the other information presented with the appropriation bills, and received a briefing from the Office of the Auditor-General on the changes in the reporting of annual audit results.
The committee meets next on 12 September to further consider the proposed change to the accountability documents, and to continue hearing evidence on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Business Taxation, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill and the inquiry into the future monetary policy framework. The committee will meet with the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Thursday, 13 September 2007, to discuss the Monetary Policy Statement—September 2007.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 6 September to consider the Armed Forces Law Reform Bill, the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill, petition 2005/146 of Peter Wallace Drummond, and its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific countries.
The committee will next meet on 13 September to continue consideration of the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill, petition 2005/146 of Malcolm Ball and 22 others, petition 2005/147 of Peter Wallace Drummond, and its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific countries.
Government Administration
The committee met on 5 September to continue its consideration of the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Amendment Bill and commence its consideration of the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2). The committee also considered the 2006/07 financial reviews.
The committee will next meet on 19 September to consider the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Amendment Bill, and the New Zealand Geographic Board (Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa) Bill.
Health
At its meeting on 5 September the committee considered further two human tissue bills, and heard evidence from petitioners from the Breast Cancer Network (NZ) Inc. urging the Government to develop a specific breast cancer strategy. The Ministry of Health and the Environmental Risk Management Agency also gave evidence on this petition.
At its next meeting on 12 September the Health Committee will consider further the two human tissue bills and hear evidence on a petition requesting an investigation into the lack of access to publicly funded dental care for children at secondary school.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 6 September to hear evidence on the Electoral Finance Bill, and further consider its inquiry into victims’ rights.
The committee will next meet on 13 September to hear further evidence on the Electoral Finance Bill, and further its consideration of other items of business before it.
Law and Order
The committee met on 5 September to hear evidence on the Corrections (Mothers with Babies) Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet on 12 September to continue consideration of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 6 September to hear evidence on the Porirua City Council (Pauatahanui Burial Ground) Bill. It further considered petitions on Auckland water charging issues, the local governance of Auckland, and land ownership on Waiheke Island.
At its next meeting, on 13 September, the committee will hear further evidence on the Porirua City Council (Pauatahanui Burial Ground) Bill, and will further consider petitions on Auckland water charging issues, seabed mining, and land ownership on Waiheke Island.
Māori Affairs
This week, the committee visited Te Kohanga Reo o Mana Tamariki in Palmerston North as part of its inquiry into Māori participation in early childhood education.
Next week, the committee will visit Te Kopae Piripono in New Plymouth as part of this inquiry.
Primary Production
The committee met this week on Tuesday to hear evidence from Professor Caroline Saunders from Lincoln University on the research report Comparative Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of New Zealand’s and the UK’s Dairy Industry. The committee also met on Thursday to consider the Fisheries Act 1996 Amendment Bill, petition 2005/125 of Rikiriki Rakena and 15 others, the recent briefing from the Animal Health Board, and the 2006/07 financial reviews.
Next week, the committee will meet on Thursday to receive a briefing on recent research into possum control, and consider the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (No 2), the Fisheries Act 1996 Amendment Bill, and petition 2005/125 of Rikiriki Rakena and 15 others. The meeting will be open between 11am and 11.45am.
The committee has called for submissions on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (No 2), with a closing date of Friday 14 September. This bill provides for the Minister of Agriculture to allocate export licences to designated dairy markets once current exclusive access rights held by the New Zealand Dairy Board expire. The bill also removes export restrictions from some markets.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 5 September and scrutinised statutory regulations, deemed regulations, considered a draft regulation, and considered regulation-making powers in the Human Tissue Bill.
The committee will next meet on 19 September to scrutinise statutory and deemed regulations and consider the inquiry into the ongoing requirement for regulations and their impact.
Social Services
The committee met on 5 September to consider the Building Amendment Bill. The committee also heard evidence on the petition of Averil Wotton.
The committee will next meet on 12 September to hear evidence on the Building Amendment Bill.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 6 September to consider the Airport Authorities (Sale to the Crown) Amendment Bill, the Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill, and the petition of Tameka Davies. The committee will next meet on 13 September to continue its consideration of these items.
