Committee notes
Commerce
This week the committee met to continue hearing submissions on the Copyright (New Technologies and Performers' Rights) Amendment Bill. It also completed on the financial reviews of Transpower and Solid Energy and set the terms of reference for the inquiry into housing affordability with a closing date for submissions of 15 June 2007. The committee also set the terms of reference for the inquiry into valuation methodology of state-owned enterprises.
Education and Science
On 28 March the committee heard evidence on the 2005/06 financial review of the Tertiary Education Commission, and further consider those of AgResearch Ltd, and HortResearch Ltd. Evidence was heard from the Correspondence School on the committee’s inquiry into making the schooling system work for every child.
At its next meeting, on 4 April, the committee will hear evidence on the 2005/06 financial review of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and further consider those of AgResearch Ltd, Scion Ltd, HortResearch Ltd, Learning Media Ltd, Industrial Research ltd and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met this week to consider and hear evidence from the New Zealand Law Society on the Income Tax Bill. The committee meets next week on Wednesday, 4 April to consider its standard questionnaire for the 2007/08 Estimates of Appropriations, and associated issues.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
This week the committee received a briefing from the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Don McKinnon. They also considered the Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions, the 2005/87 petition of Poutama Tsoi and 965 others, the 2005/112 petition of Edwina Hughes on behalf of Peace Movement Aotearoa and 709 others, and the committee’s inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific Countries.
The committee will next meet on 4 April when it will host the Indonesian Deputy Speaker and his party. The committee will also consider the Armed Forces Law Reform Bill, the Protocol to the Geneva Convention and the inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific Countries.
Government Administration
The committee met this week to continue hearing submissions the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill. The committee also heard evidence on the 2006/07 financial review of New Zealand Fire Service and considered the 2005/124 petition of Mark Holmes and 42,034 others relating to daylight savings. .
The committee meets next on 4 April to hear further evidence on the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill, and will also hear evidence on the 2006/07 financial review of Sport and Recreation New Zealand.
Health
At its meeting on 28 March the committee heard evidence on the financial review of the Whanganui District Health Board and two petitions related to services provided by the Board. The committee also heard evidence on a petition from Tui Kay Fazakerley about specialised care homes for people with acquired brain injuries and on two human tissue bills – the Human Tissue Bill and the Human Tissue (Organ Donation) Amendment Bill.
At its next meeting on 4 April the committee will hear evidence on the two human tissue bills and hear evidence on the petition of Jessica Haussman requesting that the House request the Minister of Health to provide all mothers of babies in neo-natal intensive care units with rooming-in provisions with their babies. The committee will also consider further the inquiry into obesity and type two diabetes.
Justice and Electoral
The met on 29 March to consider the Criminal Justice Reform Bill, the Property Law Bill, the Wills Bill, the Succession (Homicide) Bill and the Arbitration Amendment Bill. It also furthered its consideration of the 2005/06 Financial review of the Legal Services Agency, and finished hearing evidence on the inquiry into victims’ rights.
The committee will meet next week on 5 April to hear evidence in regard to the Property Law Bill, and continue its consideration of other items of business.
Law and Order
The committee met on 28 March to hear evidence on Petition 2005/66 of Wayne Herbert Pruden and 1103 others, hear further evidence on various petitions and the 2005/06 financial review of the Police Complaints Authority, and continue consideration of the Arms Amendment Bill (No 3).
Next week the committee will travel to Auckland to hear evidence on 4 April on the Corrections (Mothers with Babies) Amendment Bill and the Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill.
Local Government and Environment
The committee did not meet this week. Next week the committee will meet to consider the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill and the Buildings (Late Consent is a Free Consent) Amendment Bill. The committee will also hear evidence on the Waste Minimisations (Solids) Bill.
Māori Affairs
The committee met this week on 28 March 2007 to consider the Te Roroa Claims Settlement Bill and the 2005/06 financial review of Te Māngai Pāho.
Next week, the committee will be travelling to Dargaville to hear evidence on the Te Roroa Claims Settlement Bill. The meeting will be held at the Dargaville Town Hall, 37 Hokianga Rd, Dargaville, and will be open to the public from 10.30am.
The committee has resolved to undertake an inquiry into Maori participation in early childhood education, and is inviting public submissions on the inquiry with a closing date for submissions of 27 April. The terms of reference for this inquiry are: 1. To examine economic and social factors, barriers, and family (whanau) influences affecting Maori participation rates in various early childhood education programmes 2. To examine the effectiveness of governance arrangements for publicly funded early childhood education initiatives, and their effects on Māori 3. To inquire into the appropriate interventions to increase and enhance Maori participation in early childhood education.
Primary Production
The committee met this week to consider the 2005/06 financial reviews of Quotable Value Limited and AgriQuality Limited.
Next week, the committee will meet to consider the Fisheries Act 1996 Amendment Bill, the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill, the 2005/06 financial reviews of AgriQuality Limited and Landcorp Farming Limited, and the committee’s ongoing examination of the restrictions on the importation of plant germplasm.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 28 March and scrutinised deemed regulations, considered the complaint regarding Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk) Regulations 2001 and the inquiry into the Ongoing Requirement for Individual Regulations and their Impact
The committee will next meet on 4 April to scrutinise statutory regulations, and consider a draft rule.
Social Services
The committee met this week to further its consideration of the Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill, the Social Security Amendment Bill and the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Amendment Bill.
The committee next meets on 4 April to hear evidence on the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Amendment Bill. The committee will also further its consideration of the Social Security Amendment Bill.
Transport and Industrial Relations
This week the committee met to hear evidence on the financial review of Transit New Zealand and the Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet on 5 April to hear evidence on the financial review of the Civil Aviation Authority and to consider the Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill and its briefing on reopening the Onehunga rail line.
