SELECT COMMITTEE BUSINESS

From 6 December 2002 to 13 December 2002

Committee meetings

There were 17 committee meetings, including one subcommittee, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented

(available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/cgi-bin/select-reports)

Commerce

- 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Economic Development

- 2001/02 financial reviews of Broadcasting Standards Authority, Broadcasting Commission, Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Limited, Genesis Power Limited, Meridian Energy Limited, New Zealand Tourism Board, Solid Energy New Zealand Limited, Takeovers Panel, Transpower New Zealand Limited and Testing Laboratory Registration Council

Education and Science

- 2001/02 financial review of Career Services, Skill New Zealand and Learning Media Limited

- 2001/02 financial review of Industrial Research Limited, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited, Landcare Research New Zealand Limited, New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited, New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Limited and New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture Research Institute Limited

- Inquiry into the implementation of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement

Finance and Expenditure

- Taxation (Annual Rates, Maori Organisations, Taxpayer Compliance and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (213-2)

- Special report on Auditor-General annual plan for 2003/04

- Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Statement November 2002

Government Administration

- 2001/02 financial review of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission

Health

- 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Health

- 2001/02 financial reviews of Lakes District Health Board, Taranaki District Health Board and the New Zealand Blood Service

- Petition 1999/237 of Griffiths John Hamilton and 28 others

Local Government and Environment

- Local Government Bill (191-2)

Officers of Parliament

- Procedures for the appointment of an Officer of Parliament (I. 15A)

Primary Production

- 2001/02 financial review of Timberlands West Coast Limited

- 2001/02 financial review of Landcorp Farming Limited

- 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

- 2001/02 financial review of Land Information New Zealand

- 2001/02 financial review of AgriQuality New Zealand

- Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill (207-1)

- 2001/02 financial review of Quotable Value New Zealand Limited

- 2001/02 financial review of Animal Control Products Limited

Transport and Industrial Relations

- Petition 1999/159 of Allan Stanley Gargan and 76 others

- 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Transport

Bills referred to select committees

The Land Transport Management Bill was referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee.

Committee notes

(for further information on an item, please contact the committee staff noted in brackets)

Commerce (Ethan Tucker, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met this week to further consider the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill. The committee also reported on the 2001/02 financial reviews of the Ministry of Economic Development, Broadcasting Standards Authority, Broadcasting Commission,

Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Limited, Genesis Power Limited, Meridian Energy Limited, New Zealand Tourism Board, Solid Energy New Zealand Limited, Takeovers Panel, Transpower New Zealand Limited and the Testing Laboratory Registration Council.

Education and Science (Angela Van Dam, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee presented its report on the inquiry into the implementation of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement. The report contains four recommendations:

- that the Government review operation grants to schools delivering NCEA, to reflect the additional costs the new qualification system creates

- that the Government adopts a preferred provider for school administration software and that it strengthens the Ministry of Education’s personnel capacity for software development

- that the Government ensures the appointment of an NCEA Implementation Manager with responsibility for oversight of both the Ministry of Education and NZQA’s NCEA implementation functions

- that the NCEA Implementation Manager chairs a broadly-based sector advisory body to provide input into the challenges of NCEA implementation.

The committee decideded to conduct the inquiry on 9 October 2002, with the intention of contributing to the improvement of future NCEA implementation processes. Central to this is the enhancement of co-operation between the two government agencies responsible for the implementation of NCEA: the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The inquiry report can be viewed at the Office of the Clerk website: www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/cgi-bin/search-select?cat=13.

At its meeting on Wednesday, 11 December the committee also conducted hearings of evidence in the 2001/02 financial reviews of the National Library of New Zealand and the Education Review Office.

Finance and Expenditure (Fay Paterson, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee presented reports on the Auditor-General’s annual plan for 2003/04, and the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Statement. It also considered remaining evidence on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill, and commenced hearing of evidence on the inquiry into revenue effects of fraudulent investment schemes.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders, SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met this week to consider the Volunteers Employment Amendment Bill. It also began consideration of the financial review of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Health (Catherine Parkin, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee heard evidence from the Ministry of Health on the petition 1999/209 of David Nelson and 8550 others, which asks that recognition be given to the increasing level of care needed for frail elderly citizens at rest homes, dementia units and hospitals.

The committee presented its reports on the 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Health, and the petition of Griffiths John Hamilton and 28 others, which asked that the House give priority to the creation of a bill minimising future risk to public health by reducing the likelihood of contaminants entering water supplies. The committee continued consideration of the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill and Supplementary Order Paper 148. It also began consideration of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill.

Next week the committee will have a short meeting, which will be the last for the year.

Justice and Electoral (Louise Sparrer, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met this week to complete the hearings of evidence on the Clean Slate Bill and Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill. The majority of the witnesses who presented submissions on these bills did so by videoconference. The committee also considered the Retirement Villages Bill and confirmed its intention to undertake an inquiry into the 2002 General Election. A formal announcement including terms of reference and a submission closing date will made next week. At the committee’s final meeting for the year next week it will complete its consideration of the 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Justice.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met this week to consider the 2001/02 financial review of the New Zealand Police and the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill. The meeting was open to the public during oral submissions on the bill from the New Zealand Law Society, the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties and the New Zealand Police Association.

The date of the next meeting is yet to be determined.

Local Government and Environment (Marie Alexander, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)

On 10 December the committee reported on the Local Government Bill. The committee recommended, by majority, that the bill be passed with amendments. The key results of the committee’s consideration and any changes, by majority, are summarised below:

- Local authorities must encourage the presentation of community views.

- Communities are important in identifying community outcomes.

- Community views will be sought from the early stages and throughout decision-making processes.

- Clarification of purpose and principles to incorporate a sustainable development approach.

- It is not appropriate for policy decisions of elected local authorities to be overturned by an unelected review authority.

- The committee supports the retention of a Treaty clause.

- The threshold for proposing establishment of a community is lowered to 10 percent of electors.

- Delegations by territorial authorities to community boards must be considered.

- Removal of references to non-profit organisations as a specific category of council-controlled organisations.

- Chief executive contracts may be extended beyond one five-year term without readvertising a vacancy.

- One member of the Local Government Commission must have knowledge of tikanga Maori.

- Evaluation of the effect and impact of the legislation.

- The scope of required assessments of water and sanitary services has been clarified.

- Small water schemes may be closed down or transferred to the communities they serve under strict conditions.

- Mechanism for protection of regional parks or reserves applies nationally.

- Possible defences are broadened.

- Territorial authorities must adopt a policy on development contributions.

- Development contributions may be required for community infrastructure.

- The non-resident ratepayer franchise to be reinstated.

- No intention to invalidate existing liquor prohibitions.

The committee’s commentary and the bill with proposed amendments can be found on the website. The committee will hold its final meeting for the year on Thursday, 19 December.

Maori Affairs (Carol Rankin, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee heard evidence on the Maori Purposes Bill (No 2). It also further considered the Ngati Ruanui Claims Settlement Bill and the financial review of Te Puni Kokiri. This was the last meeting for 2002.

Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met for the last time in 2002 on Thursday, 12 December. The committee considered the inquiry into the scampi fisheries and the Wine Bill. It also considered and reported on the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill and the 2001/02 financial reviews of Quotable Value New Zealand Limited, Animal Control Products Limited, Land Information New Zealand and AgriQuality New Zealand Limited.

The next meeting of the committee has been scheduled for 10 February 2003 to hear evidence on the inquiry into the scampi fisheries. A subcommittee on the scampi fisheries also met on Thursday, 12 December. A further subcommittee meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, 17 December 2002.

Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Wednesday, 11 December. It will next meet on Wednesday, 18 December to continue its regular scrutiny of new government regulations.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Kath Henderson, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 12 December and heard evidence on the financial review of Transfund. The next meeting will be on 13 February 2003. This meeting will be open to the public while the committee hears evidence on the financial reviews of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission and the Maritime Safety Authority.

The committee issued a press release indicating it supports in principle the idea of an inquiry into the Accident Compensation Corporation’s treatment of long-term recipients of entitlements. Helen Duncan, Chairperson, said: “The committee is, however, unable to undertake a comprehensive inquiry until late next year due to the legislative workload. The committee would, therefore, support another select committee undertaking such an inquiry if the House permits.’

Closing dates for submissions

Committees are receiving submissions on the following items with the closing date shown:

Commerce

Anglican (Diocese of Christchurch) Church Property Trust Bill (10 January 2003)

Rotorua District (Easter Sunday Shop Trading) Bill (20 December 2002)

Local Government and Environment

Marine Reserves Bill (31 January 2003)

Primary Production

Inquiry into the administration and management of New Zealand’s scampi fishery (20 December 2002)

Transport and Industrial Relations

Road Traffic Reduction Bill (28 February 2003)

Land Transport Management (28 February 2003)

General

You can find further information about select committees on our website at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. If you require additional information or have any feedback on the contents, please contact:

Carol Rankin

Senior Parliamentary Officer

carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 13 December 2002

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