Committee notes
Commerce
At the next meeting on 6 March the committee will hear evidence on the financial reviews of Mighty River Power and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. It will consider the Securities (Local Authority Exemption) Amendment Bill, begin consideration of the Electricity Industry Reform Amendment Bill, and receive a briefing from the Office of the Auditor-General on the Sustainable Development Programme.
Education and Science
The committee met on 20 February when it heard a submission from the Ministry of Education on a petition, and heard evidence on the financial review of AgResearch.
The committee next meets on 5 March, when it will receive a briefing from the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology on the OECD report on innovation in New Zealand. The committee will also hear evidence on the financial review of Landcare Research, and will consider the Education (Universities of Technology) Amendment Bill.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee meets next week on 5 March to continue its consideration of the inquiry into the future monetary policy framework and to begin its consideration of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill (No 3).
The committee is to also meet on 6 March from 1.00 until 2.00pm to hear evidence from the Reserve Bank’s Deputy Governor on the 6 March 2008 Monetary Policy Statement. The hearing is open to the public.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 21 February to consider two petitions, begin consideration of the Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 3), and continue consideration of the inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with South Pacific countries.
The committee will next meet on 6 March to consider some petitions, hear a submission on the Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 3), and continue consideration of the inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with South Pacific countries.
Government Administration
The committee will next meet on 5 March at the Grand Chancellor Airport Hotel, Auckland to hear submissions on the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2).
Health
At the meeting on 20 February the committee heard evidence on the financial review of the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) and the Capital and Coast District Health Board. It also considered the Public Health Bill and the inquiry into the provision of ambulance services.
At its next meeting the committee will hear evidence on the financial reviews of the Wairarapa and Southland District Health Boards. It will also start hearing evidence on the Public Health Bill and consider further the inquiry into the provision of ambulance services.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 21 February to hear evidence on the Trustee Amendment Bill and the Real Estate Agents Bill. The committee will next meet on 6 March and will continue to hear evidence on the Real Estate Agents Bill.
Law and Order
The committee met on 20 February to conduct the 2006/07 financial review hearing of evidence on the Police Complaints Authority and conclude consideration of petition 2005/153 of Cilla Edmondson.
The committee will next meet on 5 March.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 26 February to consider the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill.
It will next meet on 6 March, when it will hear evidence on the Biofuel Bill.
Māori Affairs
The committee met on 27 February in Tauranga to hear submissions on the Mauao Historic Reserve Vesting Bill.
The committee will next meet on 5 March to continue hearing evidence on the Mauao Historic Reserve Vesting Bill, to hear evidence on the Māori Purposes Bill (No 2), and to consider its inquiry on Māori participation in early childhood education.
Primary Production
The committee met on 22 February at St Moritz Hotel, Queenstown, where it conducted the financial review of LandCorp.
The committee next meets on 6 March, when it will hear submissions on the Biosecurity and Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Legislation Amendment Bill.
Regulations Review
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will next meet on 5 March to scrutinise statutory regulations, draft rules, deemed regulations, and regulation-making powers in bills.
Social Services
The committee did not meet this week.
Next week, the committee will meet to hear evidence on the 2006/07 financial review of the Children’s Commission and the inquiry into the care and rehabilitation of youth sex offenders. The committee will also consider the Family Courts Matters Bill. In addition, a subcommittee will consider the inquiry into the quality and care of services provision for disabled people.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 27 and 28 February in Auckland to hear evidence on the Land Transport Management Amendment Bill, the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill (No 2), and the Public Transport Management Bill.
The committee will next meet in Wellington on 6 March to hear evidence on the financial review of the Accident Compensation Corporation, and to continue hearings of evidence into the Land Transport Management Amendment Bill.
