Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 23 February to consider the Financial Markets (Regulators and KiwiSaver) Bill.
The Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill was referred to the committee on 17 February. This bill repeals 31 Acts that no longer have any effect, or have limited effect, and are out of date. Some of the Acts that are to be repealed have been superseded by other Acts, while others seek to achieve regulatory outcomes that no longer apply. The bill is due to be reported to the House on 17 August 2011.
The committee will next meet on 10 March to hear evidence on the 2009/10 financial review of the Electricity Commission and of Mighty River Power Limited. The committee will also consider the Auditor Regulation and External Reporting Bill and the Insolvency Practitioners Bill.
Education and Science
The committee met on 23 February to further consider the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill.
The committee also heard evidence on the 2009/10 financial review of the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited and of the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited.
The committee also further considered the petitions of Monique Watson and Paulette de Ridder.
The committee will next meet on 9 March.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 22 February and 23 February to hear evidence on the Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Bill, and to consider the Telecommunications (TSO, Broadband, and Other Matters) Bill and other items of business before it. It will next meet on 9 March.
This week, the date by which the committee is expected to report on the Telecommunications (TSO, Broadband, and Other Matters) Bill was extended to 16 May 2011. At its meeting on 23 February, the committee agreed to extend the submissions period on the bill, in order to allow submitters time to consider the proposals set out in Supplementary Order Paper No 204. The closing date for submissions is now 11 March 2011. Details of the bill, and the related Supplementary Order Paper, can be found on the Parliament website, and submissions can also be made online there.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will next meet on 10 March to hear evidence on its briefing on International Treaty process; it will also hear evidence on the petition of Ghulam Haider Lone and on the international treaty examination of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean. The hearings of evidence will be open to the public.
The committee will also consider the petition of George Pera Graham Naera.
Government Administration
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will next meet on 9 March to hear evidence on the 2009/10 financial review of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board and of the New Zealand Film Commission. These hearings will be open to the public.
The committee will also consider the reports from the Controller and Auditor-General on How the Department of Internal Affairs manages spending that could give personal benefit to Ministers and on Department of Internal Affairs: Administration of two grant schemes.
Health
The committee met on 23 February to further consider the inquiries into improving New Zealand’s environment to support innovation through clinical trial and on how to improve completion rates of childhood immunisation. It also heard further evidence on the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill.
The committee will be hearing oral evidence in Auckland and Wellington on the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill over the next month, including its next meeting on 2 March in Auckland.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 24 February to begin hearing evidence on the Alcohol Reform Bill. It heard from Alcohol Action New Zealand.
Submissions on the Alcohol Reform Bill have now closed.
Subcommittees of the committee will continue to hear evidence on the Alcohol Reform Bill on 3 and 4 March in Auckland and in Wellington. The Auckland meetings will take place at the Holiday Inn Auckland Airport.
Law and Order
The committee did not meet this week and will not meet during the adjournment next week.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 23 February to hear evidence on the 2009/10 financial review of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, and to consider the Environmental Protection Authority Bill and a number of other items of business.
A subcommittee also met on 24 February to hear evidence on the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill. It heard from various groups and individuals, including Local Government New Zealand and Wellington City Council.
The committee will next meet on 10 March to finish hearing evidence on the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill, and further consider the Environmental Protection Authority Bill. It will also hear evidence on the petition of Quentin Duthie.
Māori Affairs
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will next meet on 28 February in Murupara to consider and hear evidence on the Ngāti Manawa and Ngāti Whare Claims Settlement Bill. This hearing will be open to the public.
Primary Production
The committee met on 24 February to hear evidence on the Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill (No 3). It also considered the Crown Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) Amendment Bill and the petition of Neville Donaldson on behalf of SFWU Nga Ringa Tota.
The committee will not be meeting next week.
Regulations Review
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will next meet on 10 March.
Social Services
The committee did not meet this week, and will not meet next week.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will next meet on 10 March to hear evidence on the 2009/10 financial review of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
