Select Committee Business

From 30 January to 5 February 2004

Committee meetings

No committee meetings were held this week.

Reports presented

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

Local Government and Environment

- 2002/03 financial review of the Ministry for the Environment

- 2002/03 financial review of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment

- 2002/03 financial review of the Department of Conservation

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 will meet twice next week. On 11 February and 12 February 2004, it will to consider and hear evidence on the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No 2).

In the morning of 12 February the committee will:

- consider and hear evidence on the 2002/03 Financial Review of Television New Zealand, and

- consider the Business Law Reform Bill, and

- consider the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill.

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

The committee is scheduled to meet on 11 February in room G.006, Parliament House. At the meeting the committee will hear evidence from the Minister of Finance and consider public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2004. Additionally, the Controller and Auditor-General will provide a briefing on his draft annual plan for 2004/05.

The meeting will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm.

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation (Miles Reay,)

The committee is inviting public submissions on the Maori Fisheries Bill.

The bill implements the agreements made in the Deed of Settlement of 23 September 1992 signed by the Crown and Maori, and referred to in the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claim) Settlement Act 1992. The bill also provides for the development of iwi interests in fisheries and fishing "in a manner that is ultimately of benefit to all Maori'. To achieve this, the bill provides for the establishment of a framework for the allocation and distribution of assets.

Copies of the bill can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops, or viewed on the Ministry of Fisheries website at: http://www.fish.govt.nz/current/press/maori-fisheries-bill.pdf. Submissions close on 15 March.

The committee will next meet to consider the bill on 10 February.

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

Next week the committee will meet on 12 February to further consider the Border Security Bill and to hear evidence on the Building Bill.

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

Last week the committee travelled to Auckland to consider a number of items of business. The committee heard evidence on the 2002/03 financial reviews of the Auckland and Waitemata District Health Boards. The committee also heard evidence from the three Auckland region district health boards (Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitemata District Health Boards) on regional cooperation.

The committee heard evidence on the petition of Dr Judy Goulden and 649 others. The petition requests that the House of Representatives urge the Government to stop the implementation of Primary Health Organisations.

The committee will next meet on 11 February in Wellington. The committee will hear evidence from Pharmac on its financial review for 2002/03. This will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 11.30 am in room G.002, Parliament House. The committee will also hear evidence on the petition of Royston Hughes and 952 others and this will be open to the public from 12.00 noon to 12.30 pm. This petition requests the reinstatement of a 24-hour ambulance service based in Marton. The committee will also consider other items of business.

Justice and Electoral (Angela Van Dam, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee's first meeting for 2004 will be on 11 February. It will consider its financial reviews of non-departmental entities, its inquiry into the 2002 General Election, and the Care of Children Bill. In the afternoon it will hear evidence on the Judicial Matters Bill. The meeting will be held in room G.003 in Parliament House, and will be open to the public from 3.30 pm to 6.00 pm for the hearing of evidence on the Judicial Matters Bill.

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

The committee's first meeting for the year will be 11 February. The committee will continue consideration of the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Bill, and the Police Complaints Authority (Conditional Name Protection) Amendment Bill. The committee will also consider the petitions currently before it.

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

The committee presented three financial reviews to the House (see above). These are on the web at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. The committee next meets on 12 February to hear submissions on the Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Bill. Submissions on this bill close on 9 February. The committee will also be meeting in Oamaru on 20 February to hear submissions on the bill.

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

The committee will next meet on 12 February 2004. It will be hearing evidence on the petition of Des Kahotea and 26 others requesting changes to the Ture Whenua Act 1993. The meeting will be open to the public.

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

The committee meets twice next week. On 9 February, the committee meets all day to consider the following:

- consider and hear evidence on the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No.2) and the Resource Management (Aquaculture Moratorium Extension) Amendment Bill

- consider the 2002/03 financial reviews of the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry and Fisheries and Land Information New Zealand

- consider the petitions of Sarah Jane Von Dadelszen and Gerrard Eckhoff

On 12 February, the committee will hear further evidence on the Resource Management (Aquaculture Moratorium Extension) Amendment Bill and give further consideration to the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No.2) and the 2002/03 financial reviews of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Land Information New Zealand. It will also commence consideration of the 2002/03 financial reviews of Animal Control Products Limited and AgriQuality New Zealand Limited.

Further meetings are planned for 19, 23 and 26 February 2004.

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

The committee will meet on 12 February in room G.002, Parliament House.

The meeting will be open to the public from 9.20 am to 10.30 am while the committee hears evidence on the financial reviews of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

The committee will also begin consideration of the Railways Bill. This meeting will be open to the public between 11.00 am and 12.55 pm for hearing of evidence.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Education and Science

- Education (Export Education Levy) Amendment Bill (13 February 2004)

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation

- Maori Fisheries Bill (15 March 2004)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- Visiting Forces Bill (13 February 2004)

- Inquiry into New Zealand's relationship with Tonga (28 March 2004)

Justice and Electoral

- Parole (Extended Supervision) and Sentencing Amendment Bill (20 February 2004)

Local Government and Environment

- Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Bill (9 February 2004)

Standing Orders

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

Transport and Industrial Relations

- Employment Relations Law Reform 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:

Louise Sparrer

Senior Parliamentary Officer

at louise.sparrer@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 5 February 2004

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