Select Committee Business

From 3 December to 10 December 2004

Committee meetings Fifteen committee meetings were held this week, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented (available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Publications/CommitteeReport)

Commerce 2003/04 financial review of Government Superannuation Fund Authority

Education and Science Financial review inquiry into Northland Polytechnic

Finance and Expenditure 2003/04 financial review of Radio New Zealand Limited

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade 2003/04 financial review of New Zealand Customs Service

Health Petition 2002/0119 of Dr Viola Palmer and 2869 others

Local Government and Environment 2003/04 financial review of Department of Conservation 2003/04 financial review of Ministry for the Environment 2003/04 financial review of Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Petition 2002/0020 of Kate Winters and 3,079 others

Maori Affairs Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill (175-2)

Primary Production Aquaculture Reform Bill (181-2)

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

Commerce (Michelle Malyon, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 9 December to consider and hear evidence on the 2003/04 financial review of the Takeovers Panel. The committee will not meet next week.

Education and Science (Kirstin Lambert, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 8 December to hear evidence on the Education (Establishment of Universities) Amendment Bill. On 2 December the committee presented its report on the inquiry into Northland Polytechnic. This report can be viewed at: http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/esfrinqnorthland.pdf The committee is scheduled to meet next Wednesday to consider a number of items of business.

Finance and Expenditure (Lesley Fergusonl, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met several times this week to consider the Customs and Excise (Motor Spirits) Amendment Bill, to hear evidence on the 2003/04 financial review of Air New Zealand Limited, and on the December 2004 Monetary Policy Statement. The committee also reported on the 2003/04 financial review of Radio New Zealand Limited. A copy of the committee’s report can be viewed on the website www.parliament.clerk.govt.nz/selectcommittees. The committee will meet next week to consider further the 2003/04 financial reviews of Television New Zealand and Air New Zealand and the December 2004 Monetary Policy Statement.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders, SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met this week to hear evidence on its 2003/04 financial review of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The committee also gave further consideration to its financial review of the New Zealand Customs Service and its inquiry on New Zealand’s relationship with Tonga.

Government Administration (Nerina Bennett, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz) Next week the committee will meet on 16 December to consider the Historic Places Amendment Bill. The committee will also consider its 2003/04 financial reviews of the Department of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, and the State Services Commission. The committee did not meet this week.

Health (Catherine Parkin, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee met to consider a number of items of business, including further consideration of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill (No 3). Next week will be the final meeting for the year. The committee will meet to consider a number of items of business.

The committee has reported to the House on petition 2002/119 of Dr Viola Palmer and 2,869 others. The petition requests that the House of Representatives recommend an inquiry by the Health Committee into the effects of alcohol promotion, especially advertising and sponsorship. The committee recommends that the Government undertake a comprehensive review with the goal of improving the current regulatory framework for alcohol advertising, rather than a select committee undertaking an inquiry.

The report also recommends: That the Government ensures that research on the health effects of advertising exposure is monitored, analysed, and takes into account the New Zealand cultural context, and that this research is considered in future reviews of advertising standards That the Government ensures adequate resourcing is available for further counter-advertising to publicise the negative consequences of alcohol consumption. This report can be viewed at: http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports The committee is inviting public submissions on Supplementary Order Paper 298, which proposes amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3). The closing date for submissions is 31 January 2005.

Justice and Electoral (Angela Van Dam, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 8 December to consider the Inquiry into the 2004 Local Authority Elections, and the petitions of Lynley Jane Hood and Dr Don Brash, and Gaye Davidson. The committee will meet next on 15 December to consider Petition 2002/055 of Lynley Jane Hood and Dr Don Brash, and Petition 2002/70 of Gaye Davidson.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz) The committee did not meet this week. The committee is scheduled to next meet on 15 December to further consider its 2003/04 financial reviews of the Serious Fraud Office, and the New Zealand Police.

Local Government and Environment (Beth Watson, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz) At its meeting on 9 December the committee recommenced its consideration of the Marine Reserves Bill and considered petitions.

Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 9 December to consider the financial review of Te Puni Kôkiri (Ministry of Maori Development). The committee is calling for public submissions on the Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Claims Settlement Bill. The bill aims to record the acknowledgements and apology between the Crown and Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) in the deed of settlement dated 6 June 2003 between the Crown and Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty), and to give effect to settlement of historical claims agreed by the Crown and Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) in that deed. The closing date for submissions is Monday 20 December 2004.

Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 6 December, to complete final consideration of the Aquaculture Reform Bill. This bill has been reported to the House. The committee will not meet again in 2004. Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee continued its scrutiny of new Government regulations, and further considered the complaint into civil court fees.

Social Services (Graham Hill, SC-SS@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 8 December to consider further the Charities Bill. It met again on 9 December to hear evidence on the 2003/04 financial reviews of the Ministry of Housing, and the Housing New Zealand Corporation. The committee will meet next on 16 December to consider further the Charities Bill and the 2003/04 financial reviews of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, and the Ministry of Social Development.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Kath Henderson, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 9 December to hear evidence on the 2003/04 financial review of the Accident Compensation Corporation. The committee also considered the Land Transport Amendment Bill. There will be no meeting next week.

Closing dates for submissions Committees are receiving submissions on the following items with the closing date shown: Government Administration Animal Welfare (Restriction on Docking of Dogs’ Tails) Bill (28 February 2005) Health Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) SOP 298 (31 January 2005) Justice and Electoral Inquiry into the 2004 Local Authority Elections (25 February 2005) Maori Affairs Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Claims Settlement Bill (20 December 2004) Social Services Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill (31 January 2005)

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: Louise Sparrer
Senior Parliamentary Officer

ENDS

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