Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 10 April to continue consideration of the Regulatory Responsibility Bill, and the inquiry into State-owned enterprises. It also completed consideration of a number of financial reviews.
At the next meeting on 17 April the committee will receive a briefing from New Zealand Post on the changes to mail delivery, and will continue consideration of the Electricity Industry Reform Amendment Bill, the Companies (Minority Buy-out Rights) Amendment Bill, and the Regulatory Responsibility Bill.
Education and Science
The committee will meet on 16 April, when it will consider the financial review of the New Zealand Teachers Council and hear evidence on the Education (Establishment of Universities of Technology) Amendment Bill.
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Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 7 April in Christchurch, and again on 9 April to hear evidence on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill. Another hearing on the bill is scheduled for 14 April at the Waipuna Conference Centre in Auckland. The committee will also meet in Wellington on 16 April to hear further evidence on the Climate Change Bill.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 10 April to meet with the Speaker and delegation from the Standing Orders Committee of the Parliament of Samoa, and to continue consideration of the Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 3) and its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with South Pacific countries.
The committee will next meet on 17 April to consider its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with South Pacific countries; petitions 2005/155 of Kyi Win Htain and 2005/161 of Robert Ritchie and 2,780 others; and the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
Government Administration
The committee met on 9 April to continue its consideration of the Protected Disclosures Amendment Bill and the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2). It also completed its consideration of the 2006/07 financial reviews of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission, Sport and Recreation New Zealand, the New Zealand Fire Service Commission, and the New Zealand Tourism Board. The committee will next meet on 16 April to further consider the Protected Disclosures Amendment Bill and the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2).
Health
At the committee meeting on 9 April the committee continued hearing evidence on the Public Health Bill and considered further the financial reviews of the Wairarapa and the Capital and Coast District Health Boards, and also of the Health and Disability Commissioner and the Pharmaceutical Management Agency.
On 16 April a subcommittee will consider the inquiry into ambulance services. The full committee will then hear evidence on the financial reviews of the MidCentral District Health Board and the Health Research Council. It will also consider further the financial reviews of the Southland and Waitemata District Health Boards. Later in the day the committee will hear evidence on the Alcohol Advisory Council Bill.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 7 April to hear evidence on the Real Estate Agents Bill and Thursday 10 April 2008 to hear evidence on the inquiry into the 2007 local authority elections. The committee will next meet on Thursday 17 April 2008 to continue its consideration of these and other items of business before it.
Law and Order
The committee met on 9 April to consider the Summary Offences (Tagging and Graffiti Vandalism) Amendment Bill, the Arms Amendment Bill (No 3), and the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill. The committee also heard evidence on the Policing Bill. The committee will next meet on 16 April to further consider the Summary Offences (Tagging and Graffiti Vandalism) Amendment Bill.
Local Government and Environment
On 10 April the committee heard evidence on the Housing Affordability: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill, considered the Resource Management (Climate Protection) Amendment Bill, and considered petitions on seabed mining, Napier’s Marineland, and the goats of Arapawa Island.
At its next meeting, on 17 April, the committee will consider the Biofuel Bill and will hear evidence on the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Bill and the Auckland Domain (Auckland Tennis) Amendment Bill. It will also receive a briefing on the local government aspects of the annual report of the Department of Internal Affairs.
Māori Affairs
The committee met on 9 April to hear evidence on the financial review of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, consider the Waka Umanga (Māori Corporations) Bill, receive a briefing on kura kaupapa, and to further consider its inquiry into Māori participation in early childhood education.
The committee will next meet on 16 April to consider its inquiry into Māori participation in early childhood education and petition 2005/150 of Hariata Baker, and to consider and hear evidence on the Waka Umanga (Māori Corporations) Bill.
Primary Production
This week, the committee met to receive a briefing from the Commerce Commission on its investigation into prices for access to information in the National Dairy Herd Improvement Database. Doug Woolerton was appointed deputy chairperson of the committee. Next week, the committee will meet to consider the 2006/07 financial reviews of AgriQuality Limited and Asure New Zealand Limited.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 9 April to scrutinise statutory regulations, regulation-making powers in a bill, and the complaint regarding Clause 61 (Fees) of the Medicines Regulations 1984. The committee will next meet on 14 May to scrutinise statutory regulations, deemed regulations, the complaint regarding the Overseas Investment Amendment Regulations 2008 (SR 2008/48), and the inquiry into the use of instruments of exemption in primary legislation.
Social Services
This week, the subcommittee considered the inquiry into the quality and care of services provision for disabled people. Next week, the committee will meet with the Senate Committee on Community Affairs from Australia, and will also consider the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Amendment Bill (No 6) and the 2006/07 financial reviews of the Families Commission and the Social Workers Registration Board. In addition, the subcommittee will consider further the inquiry into the quality and care of services provision for disabled people.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 10 April when it heard evidence on the Public Transport Management Bill, and the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill (No 2). It also continued its consideration of the Land Transport Management Amendment Bill. The committee will next meet on 17 April, when it will consider the Immigration Bill and continue hearing evidence on the Public Transport Management Bill.
