From 23 to 27 February 2015

Committee meetings

There were 13 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented

Education and Science Committee

• 2013/14 Annual review of Careers New Zealand, the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Landcare Research, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited, Network for Learning, the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited (SCION), the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, the New Zealand Teachers Council, Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand Limited, and the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

• Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum

Bills referred to select committees

Local Government and Environment Committee

• Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Bill

Committee notes

Commerce

The committee met on 26 February to further consider the Standards and Accreditation Bill, and consider and hear evidence on the 2013/14 annual reviews of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, and the Broadcasting Commission (NZ on Air). The committee will also consider its briefing on Information Technology Price Discrimination, Petitions 2011/95 of Carol Beaumont and 2011/96 of David Holm, and Petitions 2011/119 of Sue O’Neill, 2011/120 of Steve Crighton, and 2011/121 of Tim Gibson.

The committee will next meet on 12 March to further consider the Standards and Accreditation Bill, and consider and hear evidence on the 2013/14 annual reviews of the Commerce Commission, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and Television New Zealand.

Education and Science

The committee met on 25 February 2015 to consider and hear evidence on the 2013/14 annuals reviews of Education New Zealand and the Tertiary Education Commission.

The committee will next meet on 11 March, when it will hear evidence from the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited and Callaghan Innovation.

Finance and Expenditure

The committee met on 25 February 2015 to consider the Budget Policy Statement and Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand to 30 June 2014, the Taxation (KiwiSaver HomeStart and Remedial Matters) Bill, and two Reports from the Controller and Auditor-General – Responses of the New Zealand Police to the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct: Fourth monitoring report; and Education for Māori: Relationships between schools and whanau. The committee also heard evidence on the annual reviews of The Treasury, the Reserve Bank and Transpower New Zealand Limited.

The committee will next meet on 11 March.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

The committee met on 26 February to hear evidence on the briefing on the United Nations Security Council. The committee also further considered the petitions of Peter McKenzie on behalf of the Barnabas Fund (NZ) and Helen Kelly on behalf of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.

The committee will next meet on 12 March.

Government Administration

The committee met on 25 February to hear evidence on the 2011/127 Petition of Charlotte Purdy. It also heard evidence on the 2013/14 annual reviews of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the State Services Commission and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

The committee will next meet on 11 March.

Health

The committee met on 25 February to hear evidence on the 2013/14 annual review of the Capital Coast District Health Board, Hutt Valley District Health Board, and the Wairarapa District Health Board. The committee also continued hearing evidence on the Health (Protection) Amendment Bill.

The committee will next meet on 11 March.

Justice and Electoral

This week the committee heard evidence on the 2013/14 Annual reviews for the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights Commission, and the Crown Law Office.

The committee will not be meeting next week.

Law and Order

The committee met on 25 February 2015 to consider and hear evidence on the Policing (Cost Recovery) Amendment Bill as well as the 2013/14 annual reviews of Department of Corrections and the Serious Fraud Officer. It also considered the petition of William Rea.

The committee will not be meeting next week.

Local Government and Environment

The committee met on 26 February to consider the Environmental Reporting Bill, the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill and the Christchurch City Council (Rates Validation) Bill. It also heard evidence for the 2013/14 annual review of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Māori Affairs

The committee met this week to consider the Waitangi National Trust Board Amendment Bill. It also heard evidence on the Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Planning Committee Bill, the Te Hiku Claims Settlement Bill, and the Te Kawerau ā Maki Claims Settlement Bill.

The committee will be travelling to Te Ahu in Kaitaia on Monday, 2 March to hear submissions on the Te Hiku Claims Settlement Bill. It will also be travelling to the Novotel Auckland Airport Hotel on Tuesday, 3 March to hear submissions on the Te Kawerau ā Maki Claims Settlement Bill and the Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill.

Primary Production

The committee met on 26 February to hear evidence on the 2013/14 annual review of Animal Control Products Limited. It received a briefing on the 2014 Ballance Farm Environment Awards, and considered the international treaty examination of the Agreement on Strengthening Implementation of the Niue Treaty on Cooperation in Fisheries Surveillance and Law Enforcement in the South Pacific Region.

A meeting of the Primary Production subcommittee will take place on 9 March. The committee will next meet on 12 March.

Regulations Review

The committee did not meet this week.

Social Services

The committee met on 25 February, when it considered and heard evidence on the 2013/14 annual review of the Families Commission, and heard submissions on the Social Assistance (Portability to Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau) Bill.

The committee will next meet on 11 March 2015 to hear evidence on the 2013/14 annual review of the Children’s Commissioner and on the Report from the Controller and Auditor-General, Ministry of Social Development: Using a Case Management Approach to Service Delivery. It will also continue its consideration of the Social Assistance (Portability to Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau) Bill.

Transport and Industrial Relations

The committee met on Wednesday 26 February 2015, to consider and hear evidence on the Report from the Controller and Auditor-General, Accident Compensation Corporation: Using a Case Management Approach to Rehabilitation; on its annual review of KiwiRail Holdings Limited, and the New Zealand Railways Corporation; and on two treaty examinations: the international treaty examination of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and the Amendments of 2014, and the international treaty examination of the Protocol of 2003 to the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage 1992 together with the Supplementary Fund Protocol. The meeting was open to the public while the committee heard evidence on these items of business.

The committee also considered the Health and Safety Reform Bill, the 2013/14 annual review of the Ministry of Transport, the New Zealand Transport Agency, and the Accident Compensation Corporation, and the petition of Sean and Cody Roberts.

The committee will next meet on 12 March 2015, when it will consider and hear evidence on its annual review of the Accident Compensation Corporation, and WorkSafe New Zealand. The meeting will be open to the public from 9.15am to 10.15am while the committee hears evidence from WorkSafe New Zealand, and from 11.15 to 12.15 while it hears evidence from the Accident Compensation Corporation.

It will also consider the petitions of Malcolm Eves, Jan Mossman, and Sean and Cody Roberts, and will receive a briefing from the Treasury on the annual financial cycle.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Government Administration

Inquiry into the 2014 general election (31 March 2015)

Justice and Electoral

Coroners Amendment Bill (26 March 2015)

Privileges

Question of privilege regarding use of social media to report on parliamentary proceedings (10 April 2015)

Regulations Review

Inquiry into Parliament's legislative response to future national emergencies (1 June 2015)

Submissions can be made online

General

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 27 February 2015

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