Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 10 May 2012 to consider and conduct hearings of evidence on the Consumer Law Reform Bill.
The committee will next meet on 17 May to conduct hearings of evidence on the Consumer Law Reform Bill, at the Novotel Hotel International Airport in Auckland from 9am to 4pm.
Education and Science
This week the committee met on 9 May 2012 to consider the 2010/11 financial review of Career Services and the Tertiary Education Commission, and the petition of Judy Taligalu McFall-McCaffery and John McCaffery and 6686 others.
The committee also initiated an inquiry into Pacific languages in early childhood education. The committee will investigate the current frameworks that support Pacific language in early childhood education in New Zealand. In investigating the frameworks which include resourcing, capacity and capability, the committee will consider the role and contribution that the Government, the private sector, and the community and voluntary sector can make in early childhood education to improve the prevalence and quality of Pacific language in New Zealand. In examining this question, the terms of reference are to:
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consider any transitional effects from non-compulsory to compulsory sector education, and the implications of this on academic achievement and links with the Pacific education plan
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consider the overall framework for resourcing Pacific languages in early childhood education including local and international evidence of best practice
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consider the outcomes that are currently achieved based on the present resourcing of Pasifika early childhood services
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consider whether there are enough partnerships and opportunities for Government, the private sector, and the community and voluntary sector to collaborate in the early childhood education sector to improve the prevalence and quality of Pacific languages
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consider whether there are sufficient mechanisms to inform the early childhood education system, using research and feedback on the current uptake and quality of Pacific languages in Pasifika early childhood services
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consider any pathways to address the findings and recommendations of this inquiry.
The committee has called for submissions on the inquiry with a closing date of Monday, 25 June 2012.
The committee will not be meeting next week.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 7 and 9 May 2012 to hear evidence on the Mixed Ownership Model Bill. The committee also heard evidence from the Governor of the Reserve Bank on the Financial Stability Report for May 2012.
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has called for public submission on the International Finance Agreements Amendment Bill, with a closing date of 5 June 2012.
The committee will next meet on 23 May to consider, amongst other items of business, the Non-bank Deposit Takers Bill.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
This week the committee considered and heard evidence on the Defence Amendment Bill, and considered the International Treaty Examination of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, and the petition of Edwina Hughes and 904 others.
The committee will next meet on 31 May 2012.
Government Administration
The committee met on 9 May 2012 and further considered the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill and the Electronic Identity Verification Bill.
The committee will next meet on 23 May.
Health
The committee met on 9 May 2012 to consider and hear evidence on the Medicines Amendment Bill. The committee also considered and heard evidence on the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Southern District Health Board and the Health Quality and Safety Commission.
The committee also further considered a number of other financial reviews as well as its inquiry into preventing child abuse and improving children’s health outcomes.
The committee further consider the petitions of Wendy Mathews, Lyn Polwort, and Geoff Annals on behalf of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and the Service and Food Workers Union.
The committee also further consider its briefing on English language proficiency tests with reference to non-English speaking health professionals seeking registration in New Zealand
The committee will not meet next week.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 10 May 2012 to hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Privacy Commissioner. It also considered the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Law Commission, the Human Rights Commission, and the Legal Services Agency. The committee has reported to the House on these financial reviews, and copies of the reports are available on the Parliament website. The committee also considered the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (2012 Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill, and its inquiry into the 2011 general election.
The committee is due to meet again on 24 May to hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Electoral Commission, and on its inquiry into the 2011 general election. These hearings will be open to the public. The committee will also consider the 2010/financial review of the Abortion Supervisory Committee, the Privacy (Information Sharing) Bill, and the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (2012 Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill.
Law and Order
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee is due to meet next on 23 May 2012 to hear evidence on the Corrections Amendment Bill. This hearing will be open to the public. It will also consider the Administration of Community Sentences and Orders Bill and the Bail Amendment Bill. Public submissions are invited on both these bills. Submissions close on the Administration of Community Sentences and Orders Bill on Friday, 22 June, and on the Bail Amendment Bill on Friday, 29 June.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 10 May 2012 to consider the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill, the South Taranaki District Council (Cold Creek Rural Water Supply) Bill, the Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill, and the petition of Emma Moon on behalf of 350.org and 2,124 others. The committee also heard from submitters on the Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill. The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill was referred to the committee this week. It has made a public call for submissions on this bill, with a closing date of 21 June 2012.
Māori Affairs
The Māori Affairs Committee met on 9 May 2012 to consider its briefing on tobacco control and Māori, and to conclude its consideration of the 2010/11 financial reviews of Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) and Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency). The committee also considered the Ngāti Manuhiri Claims Settlement Bill, the Ngāti Mākino Claims Settlement Bill, the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Claims Settlement Bill, the Ngai Tāmanuhiri Claims Settlement Bill, and the Rongowhakaata Claims Settlement Bill. The committee has decided to hear evidence on its inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Māori children in Wellington, in Auckland on June 6, and Christchurch on 7 June 2012; venues are to be confirmed.
When the committee next meets on 23 May it will consider its inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Māori children. It will also further consider the Maraeroa A and B Blocks Claims Settlement Bill, the Maraeroa A and B Blocks Incorporation Bill, the Ngāti Mākino Claims Settlement Bill, the Ngai Tāmanuhiri Claims Settlement Bill, and the Rongowhakaata Claims Settlement Bill.
Primary Production
The committee met on 8 and 9 May 2012 to consider the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill.
The committee also met on 10 May to consider and hear evidence on the financial review of Landcorp Farming Limited. The committee also further considered the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill and heard evidence from Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited and the Commerce Commission.
The committee will next meet on 17 May to further consider the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 9 May 2012 to deal with matters of general business.
The committee will next meet on 24 May to consider a number of statutory regulations, and to consider the complaint regarding Legal Services Regulations 2011 (SR 2011/144).
Social Services
The committee met on 9 May 2012 to consider its inquiry into boarding houses in New Zealand, the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Charities Commission, the Families Commission, the Retirement Commissioner, the New Zealand Artificial Limb Board, and the Children’s Commissioner, the petitions of Moana Rule, Wal Gordon, and Curtis Nixon, and the report from the Controller and Auditor-General on Home-based support services for older people. It also considered the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill.
The committee completed its consideration of the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Charities Commission, the Families Commission, the Retirement Commissioner, the New Zealand Artificial Limb Board, and the Children’s Commissioner, and Petition 2008/116 of Moana Jean Karika Rule, presenting reports on each to the House on 10 May 2012. The reports are available on the Parliament website at www.parliament.nz.
The committee will next meet on 18 May to further consider the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met this week on 10 May 2012 to consider the Immigration Amendment Bill and the petition of Meng Foon.
The committee will not be meeting next week.
