SELECT COMMITTEE BUSINESS From 21 February to 28 February 2003 Committee meetings

There were 18 committee meetings. Seventeen were in the parliamentary complex and one committee is currently meeting in Dunedin.

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

Commerce 2001/02 financial review of New Zealand Post Limited

Government Administration 2001/02 financial review of the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives 2001/02 financial review of the State Services Commission

Social Services 2001/02 financial review of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Housing and the Housing New Zealand Corporation

Bills referred to select committees

The Holidays 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 italics)

Commerce (Michelle Maylon, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 27 February when it heard evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of the Meteorological Service of New Zealand and continued consideration of the 2001/02 financial review of Industry New Zealand and the Rotorua District (Easter Sunday Shop Trading) Bill.

The committee next meets on Thursday, 6 March to further consider the 2001/02 financial review of Mighty River Power, the petition of John Dickson and the Anglican (Diocese of Christchurch) Church Property Trust Bill. It will also receive a briefing from officials on New Zealand on Air, which will be open to the public.

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

A subcommittee met on Wednesday, 26 February at 9.00 am to consider the inquiry into decile funding in New Zealand State and integrated schools.

The whole committee met on Wednesday, 26 February at 10.00 am and heard evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. The committee considered the 2001/02 financial reviews of the New Zealand Teachers Council and the Foundation of Research, Science and Technology. The committee also heard evidence on the inquiry into teacher education from:

Independent Schools of New Zealand Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools New Zealand Principals’ Federation Massey University - College of Education Wellington College of Education New Zealand Association of Science Educators New Zealand Council for Educational Research Te Kaupapa Matauranga Mo Te Iwi Maori.

Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, 5 March to consider the 2001/02 financial reviews of the Early Childhood Development Unit and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The committee will hear evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of the Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand and the inquiry into teacher education. Both hearings of evidence will be open to the public.

Finance and Expenditure (Peter Hurndell, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met this week to consider the Budget Policy Statement 2003, and to hear evidence from the Chairperson of the Guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.

The committee also set a closing date of Thursday, 24 April 2003, for submissions on the Income Tax Bill. The bill rewrites Parts A to E of the Income Tax Act 1994 and re-enacts the remainder of the Act. More information on the Income Tax Bill can be found at www.taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz

Next week, the committee will meet on Wednesday, 5 March in Room G.002, Parliament House, between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm, to consider the Income Tax Bill and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill.

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

The committee was briefed this week by a delegation from the European Parliament. It also made a site visit to the New Zealand Defence Force Joint Forces Headquarters. Next week the committee will hear evidence on a petition from Damien and George Nepata. The committee will also begin consideration of the Imports and Exports (Restriction) Amendment Bill and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Stockholm Convention) Bill.

Government Administration (Lesley Ferguson, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee considered its inquiry into the weathertightness of buildings in New Zealand and the 2001/02 financial review of the Building Industry Authority. Next week the committee meets on Thursday, 6 March to further consider these items of business.

On Friday, 21 February the committee presented reports on its 2001/02 financial reviews of the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the State Services Commission. The report on the State Services Commission examines the commission’s role in the e-government strategy, the Review of the Centre, and values and standards in the State sector.

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

The committee met on Wednesday this week, when it continued to hear evidence on the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill, and continued consideration of the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill and Supplementary Order Paper 148. It also heard evidence on the petition of David John Turner and 240 others.

The committee is currently meeting in Dunedin (Friday, 28 February), where it is hearing evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of the Otago District Health Board, and on the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill. The financial review will be open to the public from 9.30 am to 11.00 am, and the hearings on the bill from 11.15 am to 3.00 pm. These are taking place in the State Room, Southern Cross Hotel, corner Princes and High Streets, Dunedin.

On Monday the committee will continue to hear evidence on the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill. This will be open to the public from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm, and from 12.30 pm to 6.00 pm, in Room G.006, Parliament House.

On Wednesday the committee will continue to hear evidence on the Health Practitioners Bill, which will be open to the public in Room G.006, Parliament House from 9.30 am to 11.30 am. It will also continue consideration of the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill and SOP 148.

The committee is inviting submissions on the Health Screening Programmes (Amendment) Bill, which will close on Friday, 11 April. For more information on this bill and on how to make a submission, please refer to www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Programme/Committees/Submissions/hehspb.htm

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

The committee met on 26 February to consider the Retirement Villages Bill, the Clean Slate Bill and the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill. The next meeting will be on 5 March, when the committee will continue to consider the Retirement Villages Bill.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 26 February to consider the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill and the 2001/02 financial reviews of the Department of Corrections, the Department for Courts, the New Zealand Police and the Serious Fraud Office.

The Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Bill was considered for the first time. The bill aims to ensure that law enforcement and national security capability are not seriously eroded by changes in technology. It places a legislative obligation on telecommunication network operators to be technically able, if required under an interception warrant or any other lawful interception authority, to:

intercept telecommunications investigate serious offences help protect national security.

The bill does not change or extend in any way the existing powers of the New Zealand Police, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, and the Government Communications Security Bureau to intercept telecommunications.

The Independent Police Complaints Authority Bill was also considered for the first time. This bill:

changes the name of the Police Complaints Authority to the Independent Police Complaints Authority increases the Authority’s membership to three persons, which includes a chairperson. The chairperson will be a current or former judge, and he or she will be supported by two other members. As with the existing Authority, the members will be appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the House of Representatives.

Copies of both bills can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops.

The committee is calling for submissions on both bills, with Wednesday, 9 April 2003 being the closing date. If you wish to make a submission, the committee requires 20 copies of your submission. Those wishing to include any information of a private or personal nature in a submission should first discuss this with the Clerk of Committee, as submissions are usually released to the public. Those wishing to appear before the committee to speak to their submissions should state this clearly and provide a daytime telephone contact number. For further guidance on making a submission, our publication Making a Submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee can be found on our web site at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. Submissions should be sent to the Clerk of Committee, Law and Order Committee Secretariat, Parliament House, Wellington.

The committee next meets on Wednesday, 5 March, from 9.30 am to 11.30 am, to further consider the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill. The Police Association will attend to speak to a supplementary submission on the bill. The committee will also consider some petitions.

Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 27 February to consider the Maori Purposes Bill
(No 2). The committee also considered the Te Whanau-a-Taupara Trust Empowering Bill.

At its next meeting, on 6 March, the committee will further consider the Te Whanau-a-Taupara Trust Empowering Bill, and hear evidence on the inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.

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

The committee met twice this week. On Monday, 24 February the committee heard evidence from Simunovich Fisheries Limited and Sanford Fisheries Limited on the inquiry into the administration and management of the scampi fishery. On Thursday, 27 February further evidence was heard from groups such as the Seafood Industry Council, the Royal Forest and Bird Society and the New Zealand Fishing Industry Guild. The committee also heard evidence from ASURE New Zealand Limited on the 2001/02 Financial Review of ASURE New Zealand Limited and received a briefing from the European Union Parliament Committee on Australia/New Zealand.

Next week the committee will further consider the Wine Bill and the scampi inquiry on 6 March.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 26 February and considered rules and draft regulations. The Treasury gave a briefing on the amended guidelines for setting charges in the public sector. The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 5 March to continue its regular scrutiny of new government regulations and to consider draft regulations and draft rules.

Social Services (Graham Hill, SC-SS@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 27 February to discuss topics of mutual interest with a European Parliament delegation and consider the financial reviews of the Ministry of Housing and the Housing New Zealand Corporation. The committee also considered further the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill. At the next meeting on 6 March the committee will be briefed by the Ministry of Social Development on the New Zealand Living Standards 2000 Report, consider further the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and hear evidence from John Robert Tonson on his three petitions about the rights of children and the actions of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Service in proceedings before the Family Court.

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

The committee met this week to hear evidence on the petition of Ross Sutherland and 584 others in relation to Paraparaumu Airport. The committee continued consideration of the Land Transport Management Bill, the Road Traffic Reduction Bill and the Rodney District Council (PENLINK Toll Road) Empowering Bill.

Next week the committee will meet on Thursday, 6 March to continue consideration of the bills mentioned above. The committee will begin hearing submissions on the Land Transport Management Bill and the Road Traffic Reduction Bill from 12.00 noon to 12.55 pm. The meeting will be open to the public during the hearing of submissions.

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

Commerce Consumer Credit Bill (3 April 2003)

Finance and Expenditure Income Tax Bill (24 April 2003)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Inquiry into New Zealand’s political, diplomatic, trade and cultural relationship with Latin American countries (21 March 2003) Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Amendment Bill (21 March 2003) Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Stockholm Convention) Amendment Bill (21 March 2003)

Health Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill (11 April 2003)

Justice and Electoral Inquiry into the 2002 General Election (17 March 2003) Supreme Court Bill (28 March 2003)

Law and Order Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill (9 April 2003) Telecommunications (Interceptions Capability) Bill (9 April 2003)

Local Government and Environment Marine Reserves Bill (28 February 2003) Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill (31 March 2003)

Transport and Industrial Relations Land Transport Management Bill (28 February 2003) Road Traffic Reduction Bill (28 February 2003) Holidays Bill (30 May 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 ph: 471 9534, fax: 499 0486, or at carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 28 February 2003

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