Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 14 June 2012 to consider and conduct hearings of evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Commerce and Vote Energy, to further consider the Consumer Law Reform Bill, and to conduct hearings of evidence on the Financial Markets Conduct Bill.
The committee will next meet on 21 June to consider and conduct hearings of evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Economic Development and Vote Tourism, and conduct a hearing of evidence on the Financial Markets Conduct Bill.
Education and Science
The committee met this week on 13 June 2012 to consider the inquiry into 21st century learning environments and digital literacy.
Next week the committee will meet on 20 June to consider and hear evidence from the Hon Steven Joyce on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Tertiary Education and Vote Science and Innovation, as well as the inquiry into 21st century learning environments and digital literacy. The hearings will be open to the public.
Finance and Expenditure
The Finance and Expenditure Committee met on 13 June 2012 to hear evidence from the Minister of Finance and the Treasury on the 2012/13 Estimate for Vote Finance, the Fiscal Strategy Report 2012 and the Economic and Fiscal Update 2012.
On 14 June the committee met to hear evidence from the Governor of the Reserve Bank on the Monetary Policy Statement for June 2012.
The committee will next meet on 20 June to hear evidence from the Minister of Revenue on the 2012/13 Estimate for Vote Revenue, and the Speaker of the House on the 2012/13 Estimate for Vote Audit.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
This week the committee met on 14 June 2012 to hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Customs, and consider the Defence Amendment Bill and the petition of Edwina Hughes and 904 others.
The committee will meet next week on 21 June to continue its consideration of the Defence Amendment Bill, and the petition of Edwina Hughes and 904 others.
Government Administration
The committee met on 13 June 2012 and completed consideration of the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 3) and the Electronic Identity Verification Bill. The committee also heard evidence on the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill.
The committee will next meet on 20 June when it will hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Prime Minister and Cabinet, Vote Internal Affairs: Ministerial Services and Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Health
The committee met on 13 June 2012 to consider the Natural Health Products Bill. The committee also considered the petition of Lyn Polwort and the briefing on English language proficiency tests with reference to non-English speaking health professionals seeking registration in New Zealand. The committee also considered the 2010/11 financial reviews of the Health Quality and Safety Commission, and the Auckland, Waitemata and Southern District Health Boards. The committee also considered and heard evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Health, as well as the Medicines Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet on 20 June to further consider the Natural Health Products Bill, and to hear evidence on the report of the Controller and Auditor-General on the Health Sector: Results of the 2010/11 audits.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 14 June 2012 to hear evidence on the inquiry into the 2011 general election. The committee also considered the Victims of Crime Reform Bill, the 2010/11 financial review of the Privacy Commissioner, the 2010/11 financial review of the Electoral Commission, and the petition of Peter McKenzie on behalf of the Barnabas Fund (NZ).
The committee will meet next on 21 June to hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Courts and Vote Justice. It will also hear evidence on its briefing into the activities of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner in 2010/11. These hearings are open to the public. The committee will also consider the Victims of Crime Reform Bill and the petition of Peter McKenzie on behalf of the Barnabas Fund (New Zealand).
Law and Order
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will meet next on 20 June 2012 to hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Corrections, Vote Police, and Vote Serious Fraud Office. These hearings will be open to the public. The committee will also consider the petition of Tracey Marceau on behalf of Christie’s Law Group and 58,000 others.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 14 June 2012 to hear evidence from the Minister of Local Government on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Internal Affairs: Minister of Local Government, and from the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Climate Change Issues on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Environment. The committee heard evidence from the Office of the Auditor-General on the report from the Controller and Auditor-General, Local Government: Results of the 2010/11 audits, and from submitters on the Game Animal Council Bill.
The committee further considered the Manukau City Council (Regulation of Prostitution in Specified Places) Bill, the petition of Metiria Turei, and the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Conservation.
The committee was referred four new bills this week—the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill, the Waitaki District Council Reserves and Other Land Empowering Bill, the Mount Maunganui Borough Reclamation and Empowering Act Repeal Bill, and the Riccarton Bush Amendment Bill. Public submissions on these bills are now being called for with a closing date of 26 July 2012.
Māori Affairs
The Māori Affairs Committee did not meet this week.
When the committee next meets on 20 June 2012, it will hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Māori Affairs and on its inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Māori children. It will also consider the Ngāti Manuhiri Claims Settlement Bill and the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Claims Settlement Bill.
Primary Production
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will next meet on 21 June 2012 to consider and hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Primary Industries and Vote Lands.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 14 June 2012 to consider Orders in Council made under the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010 and Orders in Council made under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011, and to consider a number of statutory regulations.
Social Services
The committee met on 13 June 2012 to consider and hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Housing, and Vote Social Development. Hon Phil Heatley, the Minister of Housing, appeared to give evidence on Vote Housing. Hon Paula Bennett, the Minister for Social Development and Minister of Youth Affairs, and Hon Peter Dunne, the Minister of Revenue, appeared to give evidence on Vote Social Development.
The committee concluded its consideration of the 2010/11 financial review of Housing New Zealand Corporation, and of the Social Workers Registration Board. The committee presented reports on both financial reviews to the House on 14 June 2012. Copies of the reports are available on the Parliament website.
The committee also considered its inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation, and care and protection of child offenders, and its inquiry into boarding houses in New Zealand.
The committee will next meet on 20 June to consider and hear evidence on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Senior Citizens, and Vote Internal Affairs: Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector. Hon Jo Goodhew, the Minister for Senior Citizens, will appear to give evidence from 10.15am to 10.45am on Vote Senior Citizens, and in her capacity as Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector from 10.45am to 11.30am to give evidence on Vote Internal Affairs: Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector. Both hearings will be open to the public. The committee will also consider the Child Support Amendment Bill.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 14 June 2012 to hear evidence from Hon Nathan Guy on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Immigration. The committee also considered the Immigration Amendment Bill, and the petitions of Meng Foon and Richard Aslett.
Next week the committee will meet on 21 June to hear evidence from Hon Gerry Brownlee on the 2012/13 Estimates for Vote Transport, as well as hear evidence on the Immigration Amendment Bill. The hearings will be open to the public.
