From 19 May to 23 May 2014
Committee meetings
There were 19 committee meetings, two outside Wellington and 17 in the parliamentary complex.
Reports presented
Commerce Committee
• 2012/13 financial review of Radio New Zealand Limited
• Accounting Infrastructure Reform Bill (180-2)
• Report from the Controller and Auditor-General, Discussion Paper: Learning from public entities' use of social media, June 2013
Māori Affairs Committee
• 2012/13 financial review of Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency)
Social Services Committee
• Petition 2011/38 of Dina Awarau and 186 others on behalf of Pomare community group, Petition 2011/39 of Michelle Ratima and 620 others, and Petition 2011/40 of Mary Utanga and 270 others
Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 22 May to consider the Energy (Fuels, Levies and References) Amendment Bill, the 2012/13 financial review of Radio New Zealand Limited and the report of the Controller and Auditor-General Discussion Paper: Learning from public entities’ use of social media, June 2013.
The committee will next meet on 28 and 29 May to consider and hear evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Communication, Vote Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Vote Economic Development and Employment, Vote Energy, and Vote Tourism.
Education and Science
The committee met in Christchurch on 20 May, and in Wellington on 20 and 21 May to hear evidence on the Education Amendment Bill (No 2).
The committee will next meet in Wellington on 28 May for further hearings of evidence on the bill. Sub-committees will meet in Wellington to hear evidence on the bill on 27, 28 and 29 May.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 21 May when it considered the Supplementary Estimates of appropriation for the year ending 30 June 2014, and further considered the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Bill, the petition of Deidre Kent, and the report of the Controller and Auditor-General, Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 (including the Auditor-General's proposed work programme for 2014/15).
The committee will next meet on 28 May to hear evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Revenue.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met on 22 May with a delegation from Myanmar.
The committee will not meet next week.
Government Administration
The committee met on 21 May and heard evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Statistics and Vote Parliamentary Service. It also considered the Petition 2011/97 of Kyle Lockwood, the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 4), and completed its consideration of the inquiry into the accessibility of services to Parliament.
The committee will meet next on 28 May where it will have further hearings of evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates.
Health
The committee met on 21 May 2014, when it heard evidence on the Smoke-free Environment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Amendment Bill and received a Briefing from His Excellency Khin Aung Myint, Speaker of the Upper House of the Myanmar Parliament, It also considered Petition 2011/102 of Carmel Berry and Charlotte Korte, Petition 2011/79 of Rae Reynolds and 276 others, Petition 2011/85 of Cynthia Bowers and 1,035 others, Petition 2011/89 of Neil Pluck on behalf of the Rakaia Community Association and Petition 2011/99 of Shane Jeffares on behalf of Together Napier.
The committee will next meet on 28 May 2014, when it will hear evidence on Petition 2011/81 of Patricia Maich Armstrong and on the 2014/15 Estimates Vote Health. It will also consider the 2012/13 financial review of the Southern District Health Board, Petition 2011/88 of Sym Gardiner, Petition 2011/98 of Carrie Hetherington, Petition 2011/66 of Ann Chapman and 1,053 others, Petition 2011/79 of Rae Reynolds and 276 others, Petition 2011/85 of Cynthia Bowers and 1,035 others, Petition 2011/89 of Neil Pluck on behalf of the Rakaia Community Association and Petition 2011/99 of Shane Jeffares on behalf of Together Napier.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 22 May and heard evidence on a briefing from the Treasury on changes to the 2014/15. It also considered Inquiry into the 2013 local authority elections, and the Harmful Digital Communications Bill, and the Judicature Modernisation Bill.
Next week the committee will meet on 29 May to hear evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates for Votes Attorney General, Parliamentary Counsel, Courts and Justice. It will also continue its consideration of Judicature Modernisation Bill.
Law and Order
The committee met on 21 May 2014 to consider the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Corrections, Vote Police and Vote Serious Fraud.
The committee will next meet on 28 May 2014.
Local Government and Environment
A subcommittee formed by the committee met in Kaikōura on 22 May to hear further evidence on the Kaikōura (Te Tai-o-Marokura) Marine Management Bill.
The committee will next meet on 29 May.
Māori Affairs
The committee met on 21 May this week to consider the Waitangi National Trust Board Amendment Bill and the 2012/13 financial review of Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency. The committee also met with the Speaker from the Upper House of Myanmar.
Next week the committee will meet on 28 May to hear evidence on the Waitangi National Trust Board Amendment Bill and the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Māori Affairs and Vote Treaty Negotiations.
Primary Production
The committee met on 22 May. It considered the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, conducted hearings into the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Lands and Vote Food Safety, and received a briefing on fertiliser standards.
The committee will next meet on 29 May when it will receive briefings on the report of the Controller and Auditor-General: Preparing for and responding to biosecurity incursions, and the regulation of the whitebait fishery on the West Coast
Privileges
The committee met on 21 May 2014 to consider the Parliamentary Privilege Bill, and other items of business before it.
The committee expects to meet again on 28 May 2014.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 22 May 2014 to hear evidence on the Complaint regarding the Arms (Military Style Semi-automatic Firearms - Pistol Grips) Order 2013 (SR 2013/464). The committee also continued its scrutiny of various legislative instruments and disallowable instruments that are not legislative instruments, and considered regulation making powers in bills
The committee will next meet on 29 May 2014 to continue its scrutiny of various legislative instruments and disallowable instruments that are not legislative instruments, and to consider regulation making powers in bills.
Social Services
The committee met on 21 May to consider the Social Security (Clothing Allowances for Orphans and Unsupported Children) Amendment Bill, three petitions dealing with state housing developments and affordability in Pomare, Maraenui, and Glen Innes from Dina Awarau, Michelle Ratima, and Mary Utanga, the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Social Development, for Vote Housing, and for Vote Senior Citizens, its Inquiry into boarding houses in New Zealand, and its Briefing into long-term caravan park and motor camp accommodation. On 22 May 2014 the committee presented its report to the House on the petitions of Dina Awarau, Michelle Ratima, and Mary Utanga.
The committee will next meet on 28 May to consider its Inquiry into the funding of specialist sexual violence social services and a report from the Controller and Auditor-General, Public entities in the social sector: Our audit work.
It will also consider and hear evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Social Development, for Vote Housing, and for Vote Senior Citizens. The meeting will be open to the public from 9.20am to 10.30am while the Minister of Housing and Minister for Building and Construction, both of whom are Hon Dr Nick Smith, and the chief executive and senior officials from Housing New Zealand Corporation, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment appear to give evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Housing. The meeting will also be open to the public from 10.30am to 12.00pm while the Minister for Social Development, Hon Paula Bennett, and the Associate Minister for Social Development, Hon Chester Borrows, as well as the chief executive and senior officials from the Ministry of Social Development appear to give evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Social Development. The meeting will again be open to the public from 12.10pm to 12.50pm while the Minister for Senior Citizens, Hon Jo Goodhew, as well as the chief executive and senior officials from the Ministry of Social Development appear to give evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Senior Citizens.
Standing Orders
The committee will meet in the evening of 22 May to consider the Review of Standing Orders.
The committee will next meet on 29 May.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 22 May to consider the Land Transport Amendment Bill and to hear evidence on the Health and Safety Reform Bill.
The committee will meet next week on 29 May to hear evidence on the 2014/15 Estimates for Vote Transport, Vote Immigration and Vote Labour.
Closing dates for submissions
Committees are receiving submissions on the following items with the closing date shown:
Government Administration
• Statutes Amendment Bill (No 4) (6 June 2014)
Submissions can be made online
General
Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 23 May 2014

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