Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 26 March to conduct the financial review hearing of Mighty River Power, to hear submissions on the Securities Disclosure and Financial Advisers Amendment Bill, and to consider the Insolvency Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet on 2 April to hear evidence on the financial review of Transpower New Zealand Limited and to consider the Securities Disclosure and Financial Advisers Amendment Bill, the Settlement Systems, Futures, and Emissions Units Bill, and the Insolvency Amendment Bill.
Education and Science
The committee met on 25 March to hear evidence on the 2007/08 financial review of the Tertiary Education Commission.
The committee will next meet on 1 April to hear evidence on the 2007/08 financial reviews of Learning Media Limited and AgResearch Limited and further consider the 2007/08 financial review of the Tertiary Education Commission.
Emissions Trading Scheme Review
The Emissions Trading Scheme Review committee met this week to consider the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Next week, the committee will be meeting on 2 April to hear evidence on the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme. The meeting will be open to the public between 9am and 12pm.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 25 March and 26 March to continue its consideration of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Statement, March 2009; the 2007/08 financial reviews of the Inland Revenue Department, the Treasury, and the Financial statements of the Government for the year ended 30 June 2008; and the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Bill.
It will next meet on 1 April to continue its consideration of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Bill, and other items of business before it.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 26 March to hear evidence on the 2007/08 financial review of the New Zealand Antarctic Institute, receive a briefing as part of the international treaty examination of the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, and continue its consideration of its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with South Pacific countries.
The committee will next meet on 2 April to consider a petition, hear evidence as part of the international treaty examination of the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, and continue its consideration of its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with South Pacific countries.
Government Administration
The committee met on 25 March to hear evidence on the 2007/08 financial reviews of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board and the New Zealand Film Commission. The committee reported to the House on the 2007/08 financial reviews of the State Services Commission, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
The committee will next meet on 1 April to consider the Cultural Property (Protection in Armed Conflict) Bill and the 2007/08 financial reviews of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission and Sport and Recreation New Zealand.
Health
The committee met on 25 March and resumed its consideration of the 2007/08 financial reviews with hearings of evidence from the Pharmaceutical Management Agency, the Mental Health Commission, and the Canterbury District Health Board.
The committee will next meet on 1 April when it will continue the 2007/08 financial reviews with hearings of evidence from West Coast District Health Board, Whanganui District Health Board, Otago District Health Board, and Southland District Health Board.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 26 March to consider the 2007/08 financial reviews of non-departmental appropriations for Support for Victims and Crime Prevention and Community Safety. The committee also considered the 2007/08 financial reviews of the Crown Law Office and the Law Commission and the Judicial Matters Bill, the Criminal Investigation (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill, the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill, and the Domestic Violence (Enhancing Safety) Bill
The committee will next meet on 2 April to hear evidence on the Domestic Violence (Enhancing Safety) Bill.
Law and Order
The committee met on 25 March to consider the 2007/08 financial reviews of the New Zealand Police, Department of Corrections, Independent Police Conduct Authority, and Serious Fraud Office. In addition, the committee received a briefing from the State Services Commissioner on his report to the Minister of Corrections in regard to the findings in the Controller and Auditor-General’s report titled Department of Corrections: Managing offenders on parole.
The committee will next meet on 1 April to consider the Office of the Auditor-General’s 2009/10 proposed work programme, the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Bill, and the Gangs and Organised Crime Bill.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 26 March to hear evidence on the 2007/08 financial review of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, and to further consider the financial reviews of the Ministry for the Environment, the Department of Conservation, and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. It also considered the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill, and Petition 2008/2 of Penelope Mary Bright and 189 others.
The committee will next meet on 2 April to hear evidence on the 2007/08 financial review of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, and to consider the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill.
Māori Affairs
The committee met on 25 March to hear evidence on the 2007/08 financial review of Te Taura Whiri ī Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) and to continue its consideration of the 2007/08 financial reviews of the Ministry of Māori Development (Te Puni Kōkiri) and Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency).
The Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill was also considered.
The committee received two briefings from the Ministry of Education, on the use of limited statutory managers appointed under the Education Act 1989 and on Māori educational achievement.
The committee next meets on 1 April to consider the Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Bill.
Officers of Parliament
The committee met on 26 March to consider the proposed budget for the three Officers of Parliament—the Ombudsmen, the Controller and Auditor-General, and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
A sub-committee will next meet on 2 April to consider the appointment of a new Controller and Auditor-General.
Primary Production
The committee met on 26 March to hear evidence on the 2007/08 financial review of Landcorp Farming Limited and the Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill. It also considered the financial review of Land Information New Zealand, and the petition of Riki Harris.
At its next meeting on 2 April the committee will hear evidence on the Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2), and consider the 2007/08 financial reviews of AsureQuality Limited, Animal Control Products Limited, Quotable Value Limited, and Timberlands West Coast Limited.
Privileges
The committee met this week to hear evidence on the question of privilege relating to the exercise of the privilege of freedom of speech by members in the context of court orders. The committee will hear a further submission at 8am next Wednesday; the hearing of evidence will be open to the public.
Social Services
The committee met this week to hear evidence from the Office of the Auditor-General on its report, Housing New Zealand Corporation: maintenance of state housing. The committee also considered the 2007/08 financial reviews of Housing New Zealand Corporation and the Charities Commission.
Next week, the committee will hear evidence on the 2007/08 financial reviews of the Social Workers Registration Board and the New Zealand Artificial Limb Board, and consider several other financial reviews. The meeting will be open to the public between 10.30am and 11.30am.
Transport and Industrial Relations
At its meeting on 26 March the committee heard evidence from the New Zealand Transport Agency on the 2007/08 financial reviews of Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand, which were merged into the New Zealand Transport Agency from 1 August 2008. The committee also continued hearing evidence on the petition of Hon Phil Goff calling on the Government to take firm action to ensure that residents of Onehunga are not further disadvantaged by the completion of State Highway 20 across Onehunga Bay. The committee also considered further the 2007/08 financial reviews of the Department of Labour and the Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 4).
At its next meeting on 2 April the committee will continue hearing evidence on the 2007/08 financial review of the Accident Compensation Corporation and consider further the Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 4).
