Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 3 May 2012 to further consider the 2010/11 financial reviews of Radio New Zealand, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the Electricity Authority, the Broadcasting Commission, Mighty River Power, and Solid Energy. The committee held a further hearing of evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of Meridian Energy, and considered the Financial Markets Conduct Bill.
The committee will next meet on 10 May to conduct hearings of evidence on the Consumer Law Reform Bill, and further consider the 2010/11 financial reviews of Genesis Power and Meridian Energy.
Education and Science
The committee met on 2 May 2012 to hear evidence from the Office of the Auditor-General on its report on the Education Sector: Results of the 2010/11 Audits, and meet with a visiting delegation from the European Parliament. The committee also considered the report from an Ombudsman on Complaints Arising out of Bullying at Hutt Valley High School in December 2007, and the petition of Judy Taligalu McFall-McCaffery and John McCaffery and 6686 others.
Next week, the committee will meet on 9 May 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.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 2 May 2012 to hear evidence on the Mixed Ownership Model Bill, as well as considering other items of business currently before the committee.
The committee will next meet on 7 May in Christchurch to continue to hear evidence on the Mixed Ownership Model Bill. The committee is also scheduled to meet on 9 May when, amongst other items of business, the committee is scheduled to hear from the Governor of the Reserve Bank on the Financial Stability Report, which the Reserve Bank is scheduled to release that morning.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
This week the committee met on 3 May 2012 to consider the 2010/11 financial review of the New Zealand Antarctic Institute and the briefing on the major defence projects report.
Next week the committee will consider and hear evidence on the Defence Amendment Bill, and continue its consideration of the International Treaty Examination of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, and the petition of Edwina Hughes and 904 others.
Government Administration
The committee met on 2 May 2012, and completed consideration of the 2010/11 financial review of the New Zealand Fire Service and the 2010/11 financial review of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (now Sport New Zealand). It also further considered the Electronic Identity Verification Bill and the Statutes Amendment Bill (No. 3).
The committee will next meet on 9 May when it will further consider the Electronic Identity Verification Bill and the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill.
Health
The committee met on 2 May 2012 to further consider the 2010/11 financial review of the New Zealand Blood Service as well as the report of the Controller and Auditor-General on New Zealand Blood Service: Managing the safety and supply of blood products.
The committee also considered and heard evidence on the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Pharmaceutical Management Agency and the West Coast and Canterbury District Health Boards, and considered the Medicines Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet on 9 May to consider and hear evidence on the Medicines Amendment Bill. The committee will also consider and hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Southern District Health Board and the Health Quality and Safety Commission.
The committee will also further consider a number of other financial reviews as well as its inquiry into preventing child abuse and improving children’s health outcomes. The committee will also further consider the petitions of Wendy Mathews and Lyn Polwort.
The committee will also further consider its briefing on English language proficiency tests with reference to non-English speaking health professionals seeking registration in New Zealand.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 3 May 2012 when it heard evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Abortion Supervisory Committee. It also considered the Victims of Crime Reform Bill, the Privacy (Information Sharing) Bill, the Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill, and the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (2012 Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill. Public submissions are invited on this bill, closing on Friday 11 May, 2012.
The committee will next meet on 10 May to hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Privacy Commissioner. This hearing is open to the public. It will also consider the 2010/11 financial review of the Law Commission, the 2010/11 financial review of the Human Rights Commission, and the 2010/11 financial review of the Legal Services Agency. The committee will also consider the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (2012 Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill, and its inquiry into the 2011 general election.
Law and Order
The committee met on 2 May 2012 to consider the Corrections Amendment Bill. It also considered the report of the Chief Ombudsman and an Ombudsman on Investigation of the Department of Corrections in relation to the Provision, Access and Availability of Prison Health Services, and the 2010/11 financial review of the Independent Police Conduct Authority and has now reported to the House on these items of business.
The committee will not meet next week.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 3 May 2012 to consider the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill, the Manukau City Council (Regulation of Prostitution in Specified Places) Bill, the Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill, and the Game Animal Council Bill. The committee was referred three new petitions this week; Petition 2011/0015 of Christine Rose, Petition 2011/0016 of Christine Rose, and Petition 2011/0017 of Mark Loyal Gibson on behalf of the Avon-Otakaro Network and 18,656 others. The committee was also referred the Building Amendment Bill (No 4) this week. It has made a public call for submissions on this bill, with a closing date of 11 June 2012.
Māori Affairs
The Māori Affairs Committee met on 2 May 2012 to consider its briefing on tobacco control and Māori, the 2010/11 financial review of Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) and the 2010/11 financial review of Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency). The committee also considered the Ngāati Manuhiri Claims Settlement Bill, Maraeroa A and B Blocks Claims Settlement Bill, and the Maraeroa A and B Blocks Incorporation Bill.
When the committee next meets on 9 May it will further consider the Ngāti Makino Claims Settlement Bill, the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Claims Settlement, the Ngai Tāmanuhiri Claims Settlement Bill, the Rongowhakaata Claims Settlement Bill, and its inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Māori children
Primary Production
The committee met on 30 April 2012 to consider and hear evidence on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill.
The committee also met on 3 May to consider and hear evidence on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill. The committee also considered and heard evidence on the financial review of Quotable Value Limited.
The committee will next meet on 8 and 9 May to further consider the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill. The committee will also meet on 10 May to consider and hear evidence on the financial review of Landcorp Farming Limited. The committee will also further consider the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 3 May 2012 to consider a number of statutory regulations, and the Complaint regarding the Legal Services Regulations 2011 (SR2011/44).
Social Services
The committee met on 2 May 2012 to further consider the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill, and to consider and hear evidence on the 2010/11 financial review of the Social Workers Registration Board. The meeting was open to the public for the hearing of evidence.
The committee will next meet on 9 May 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 will also further consider the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 3 May 2012 to consider the 2010/11 financial review of the Maritime Safety Authority of New Zealand.
The committee will meet next week on 10 May to consider the Immigration Amendment Bill and the petition of Meng Foon.
