Committee notes
Commerce
The committee heard evidence on the financial reviews of Solid Energy and Transpower, and commenced consideration of the Major Events Management Bill. The committee also agreed to conduct two inquiries, the first into housing affordability in New Zealand and the second into the valuation methodology for state-owned enterprises.
The next meeting will be on 15 March when the committee will hear further evidence on the financial reviews of Meridian Energy and the Electricity Commission, commence its consideration of the Copyright (New Technologies and Performers' Rights) Amendment Bill, and further consider the two inquiries.
Education and Science
At its meeting on 28 February the committee heard evidence on the 2005/06 financial review of Forest Research Institute Ltd. It also heard evidence on its inquiry into making the schooling system work for every child from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and from the Tu Toa Charitable Trust. The committee will not meet in the week beginning 5 March.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met this week on 28 February to consider the petition of Mr Peter Cleary and its inquiry into Television New Zealand. The committee meets next week on 8 March , from 11.15 am to 12.30 pm to hear evidence from the Governor of the Reserve Bank on his March 2007 Monetary Policy Statement.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 1 March and reported on the 2005/06 financial review of New Zealand Antarctic Institute, considered the Protocol to the Geneva Convention and the World Wine Trade Group Agreement, as well as a number of petitions from Poutama Tsoi, the 2005/112 petition of Edwina Hughes on behalf of Peace Movement Aotearoa and the 2005/103 petition of Homeira Madani. The committee then resolved to conduct an inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific countries.
The committee will next meet on 15 March when it will consider the 2005/06 financial review of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, its Pacific inquiry and the petitions of Poutama Tsoi..
Government Administration
The committee did not meet this week, and will next meet on 14 March to again consider the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill, and conduct the hearing of evidence for the 2005/06 financial review of the Office of Film and Literature Classification
Health
At its meeting on 28 February the committee heard evidence on the financial review of the New Zealand Blood Service and two human tissue bills - the Human Tissue (Organ Donation) Amendment Bill and the Human Tissue Bill. It considered further the Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Bill.
At its meeting on 7 March the committee will hear evidence on the financial review of the Capital and Coast District Health Board, the two human tissue Bills and the inquiry into obesity and type two diabetes. The committee will consider further the Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Bill.
Justice and Electoral
This week the committee finished hearing evidence on the Wills Bill, and continued its consideration of other items of business.
At its next meeting on 15 March the committee will hear evidence from the Privacy Commissioner in relation to the 2005/06 financial review of that office, and will continue its consideration of other items of business.
Submissions are still being accepted on the Criminal Justice Reform Bill. Submissions can be made online at http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/SC/SubmCalled/.
Law and Order
This week the committee met on 28 February and reported on the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill. It also received a public briefing from the New Zealand Police on the current Taser trial, and heard evidence on four petitions. The committee next meets on 14 March.
Local Government and Environment
This week the committee reported on the financial review of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and heard evidence on the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill. The committee will not meet in next week’s adjournment.
Māori Affairs
The committee met this week on 28 February to receive a briefing on school bus sign regulations. The committee will not be meeting next week.
The committee is inviting public submissions on the Te Roroa Claims Settlement Bill, which records the acknowledgements and apology offered by the Crown to Te Roroa, and gives effect to the Deed of Settlement in which the Crown and Te Roroa agree to a final settlement of all the Te Roroa historical claims. The closing date for submissions is Friday, 23 March 2007, and copies of the bill can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops.
Primary Production
The committee did not meet this week, and will not be meeting next week
Regulations Review
The committee met on 28 February to consider investigations of statutory and deemed regulations, the Inquiry into the Ongoing Requirement for Individual Regulations and their Impact, and the Activities Report 2006.
The committee will next meet on 14 March to consider investigations of statutory and deemed regulations, and a draft maritime rule.
Social Services
The committee met on 28 February to consider and hear evidence on the 2005/06 financial reviews of the Social Workers Registration Board, and the Retirement Commission. The committee also considered the Social Security Amendment Bill. The committee will not meet next week.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met this week to conduct the financial review hearing of OnTrack, to hear evidence on the Onehunga Rail briefing, to further consider the Heli-logging briefing and reported on the petition of Trudy Henigan and 250 others.
The committee will next meet on 15 March to hear evidence from the Ministerial Advisory Group on Roading Costs, to consider further the financial review of OnTrack, and to hear evidence on the Minimum Wage and Remuneration Bill.
