Select Committee Business

From 31 October to 7 November 2003

Committee meetings

There were 20 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented

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

Education and Science

- 2002/03 financial review of the Early Childhood Development Board

- 2002/03 financial reviews of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited, Landcare Research New Zealand Limited, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited, New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Limited, and New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture Research Institute Limited

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Amendment Bill (61-1)

- International treaty examination of the Agreement Establishing the International Organisation of Vine and Wine

- International treaty examination of the Termination of the Agreement for the Creation in Paris of an International Wine Office

Finance and Expenditure

- 2002/03 financial reviews of the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General and the Inland Revenue Department

Health

- 2002/03 financial review of the Health Sponsorship Council

Transport and Industrial Relations

- Petition 2002/71 of Wendy Pond for Manu Waiata Restoration and Protection Society

Bills referred to select committees

The Architects Bill was referred to the Government Administration Committee.

The Mercenary Activities (Prohibition) Bill was referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee.

The Electricity and Gas Industries Bill was referred to the Commerce Committee.

The Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 2) was referred to the Primary Production Committee with a report due by 27 February 2004.

Changes in committee membership

Commerce

Brian Connell and Hon Roger Sowry replaced Hon Maurice Williamson and Gerry Brownlee.

Hon Roger Sowry was appointed Deputy Chairperson.

Education and Science

Hon Bill English and Dr Wayne Mapp replaced Simon Power and Dr Paul Hutchison.

HV Ross Robertson replaced Mark Peck.

Finance and Expenditure

Pansy Wong and John Key replaced Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith and Dr Don Brash.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Simon Power replaced Dr Wayne Mapp.

Government Administration

Shane Ardern and Lindsay Tisch replaced Pansy Wong and Judith Collins.

Shane Ardern was appointed Deputy Chairperson.

Health

Dr Paul Hutchison replaced Judith Collins.

Mark Peck replaced HV Ross Robertson.

Justice and Electoral

Judith Collins replaced Lindsay Tisch.

Local Government and Environment

Hon Clem Simich replaced Shane Ardern.

Maori Affairs

Dr Wayne Mapp replaced Hon Murray McCully.

Regulations Review

Pansy Wong replaced Hon Tony Ryall.

Social Services

Judith Collins replaced Hon Clem Simich.

Transport and Industrial Relations

Hon Maurice Williamson and Gerry Brownlee replaced Hon Roger Sowry and John Key.

Gerry Brownlee was appointed Deputy Chairperson.

Committee notes

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

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

The committee met on Thursday, 6 November 2003 to consider and hear evidence on the financial reviews of the Ministry of Economic Development and the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund. It also continued to hear evidence on the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill. Hearings were open to the public.

The committee will next meet on Thursday, 13 November 2003 to further its consideration of the Business Law Reform Bill. It will also continue to hear evidence on the inquiry into the New Zealand Electrcity Industry; this will be open to the public.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 5 November to hear evidence on the inquiry into teacher education and the 2002/03 financial review of the Education Review Office. The committee also considered the inquiry into decile funding in New Zealand State and integrated schools.

Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, 12 November to hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial reviews of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, and the National Library of New Zealand.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 5 November to hear evidence from the Minister of Finance on the Crown Financial Statements and the Secretary of The Treasury on the 2002/03 financial review of The Treasury. The committee also considered the Taxation (Annual Rates, GST, Trans-Tasman Imputation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, and reported to the House on the 2002/03 financial review of the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General and the Inland Revenue Department.

Next week the committee will hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of the Department of Labour and consider the Income Tax Bill. The hearing will be open to the public.

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

The committee reported on the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Bill. It also reported its international treaty examinations of the Agreement Establishing the International Organisation of Vine and Wine and the Agreement for the Creation in Paris of an International Wine Office.

The committee began its examination of the 2002/03 financial reviews of the New Zealand Defence Force and the Ministry of Defence.

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

The committee meet this week to hear evidence on the Maritime Security Bill and consider the Border Security Bill. The Architects Bill was referred and the committee is calling for public submissions. The key features of the bill include: the continuation of statute protection of the title of ‘architect’; the establishment of a public register that will detail any disciplinary action taken against an architect; a requirement to provide better information to consumers; the introduction of ongoing competency testing for architects, and improved governance and administration processes and procedures. The closing date for submissions is 5 December 2003. An electronic version of the bill is available from the Ministry of Economic Development website at www.med.govt.nz.

Next week the committee meets to hear evidence from Brian Pink, Government Statistician, on the 2002/03 financial review of Statistics New Zealand. The committee will also hear evidence from Christopher Blake, Chief Executive, on the performance of the Department of Internal Affairs.

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

This week the committee heard evidence from the Ministry of Health on the 2002/03 financial review of the ministry, and considered other items of business.

Next week the committee will hear further scientific evidence on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill. This will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 10.30 am in Room G.003, Parliament House. The committee will also consider other items of business.

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

The committee met twice this week. On Wednesday, 5 November the committee considered its inquiry into the 2002 General Election and its inquiry into section 55 of the Electoral Act 1993, heard evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of the Ministry of Justice from both the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, and heard evidence on the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill. On Thursday, 6 November it continued to hear evidence on the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill.

At its next meeting on Wednesday, 12 November the committee will continue to hear evidence on the Care of Children Bill and the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill. The meeting will be open to the public for hearing of evidence on the Care of Children Bill from 9.50 am to 1.00 pm, and for hearing of evidence on the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill from 3.30 pm to 6.00 pm.

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

The committee met this week to further consider the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Bill, the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill and the Corrections Bill. A public briefing from the Office of the Ombudsmen on ‘The role of the Ombudsmen in the prison service’ was held to assist the committee in its consideration of the Corrections Bill. It also heard evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of the Department for Courts.

Next week the committee will continue consideration of the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill, and will hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of the Department of Corrections. This will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm. It will also continue consideration of the Corrections Bill.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 6 November to further consider the inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken and to hear submissions on the Wellington City Council (Te Aro Reclamation) Amendment Bill. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 13 November to consider the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Bill and the Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill. This part of the meeting will not be open to the public. However, the meeting will be open from 12 noon to 1.00 pm when the committee meets with the Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee from the People’s Republic of China. The meeting will be in Room G.003, Parliament House.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 6 November to hear evidence for the financial review of Te Puni Kôkiri, and considered the Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill.

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

The committee met three times this week to consider its inquiry into the administration and management of the scampi fishery. It will meet again on Thursday, 13 November to give further consideration to the inquiry.

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

This week the committee commenced an inquiry into affirmative resolution procedures with the following terms of reference:

- the use of affirmative resolution procedures that apply to regulations

- the principles that determine whether it is appropriate to include an affirmative resolution procedure in legislation

- what parliamentary procedures should apply to the approval of a regulation where the legislation includes an affirmative resolution procedure.

The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 12 November to continue its regular scrutiny of new Government regulations.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 6 November to hear evidence on the financial review of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services. At the next meeting on Thursday, 13 November the committee will hear evidence on the financial reviews of the Ministry of Housing and the Housing Corporation.

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

The committee considered the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill, which is due for report by 13 November. The Holidays Bill and Holidays (Four Weeks Annual Leave) Amendment Bill were also considered this week.

Next week at its meeting on Thursday, 13 November the committee will hear evidence on the financial review of the Land Transport Safety Authority and will continue consideration of the holidays bills.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

- Supplementary Order Paper No 152 relating to Clause 93 of the Business Law Reform Bill (12 November 2003)

Government Administration

- The Architects Bill (5 December 2003)

Justice and Electoral

- Judicial Matters Bill (21 November 2003)

Standing Orders

- Members of Parliament (Pecuniary Interests) Bill (27 February 2004)

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, 7 November 2003

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