Select Committee Business

From 19 October to 26 October 2001

Committee meetings

There were five committee meetings this week, including one currently in progress. One meeting was in Auckland and the other four were in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented (3)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- International treaty examination of the Agreement Establishing the Pacific Islands Secretariat

- Interim report on the International Treaties Bill (I. 4D)

Local Government and Environment

- Taranaki Regional Council Empowering Bill (101-2)

Bills referred to select committees

No bills were referred.

Committee notes

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

Commerce (Alan Witcombe, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)

On Thursday, 1 November, the committee will hear the remaining submissions on the Trade Marks Bill. This bill aims to ensure New Zealand’s trade mark law better meets the needs of the business community and addresses Maori concerns regarding the registration of Maori words and symbols as trade marks.

Education and Science (Louise Gardiner, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee did not meet this week. At its next meeting on Thursday, 1 November, the committee will consider the upcoming financial reviews of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology and the National Library of New Zealand. The committee will also discuss its inquiry into decile funding of schools. In addition, two petitions will be considered: first, of Hon Tony Ryall, requesting the establishment of a high school in Papamoa, and second, of Dr Mark Brandon Bland, concerning the National Library.

Finance and Expenditure (Julian Kersey, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee will meet on Wednesday, 31 October, in Room G.006, Parliament House. It will hear evidence on the financial review of Television New Zealand. This financial review will be open to the public from 10.30 am to 11.30 am. The committee will consider also the Trustee Companies Amendment Bill.

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

The committee met this week to consider the Terrorism (Bombings and Financing) Bill. The committee also considered its inquiry into New Zealand’s economic and trade relationship with Australia.

The committee’s interim report on International Treaties Bill was presented yesterday. The due date for a report on this bill is 7 June 2002.

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

Next week the committee is to hear evidence from the chief executives of the Department of Internal Affairs and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the financial reviews of their organisations for the 2000/01 financial year. The committee is also to hear further evidence on its inquiry into the operation of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 and related issues.

Health (Matthew Andrews, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee has set initial dates for hearing public submissions on the inquiry into the adverse effects on women as a result of treatment by Dr Graham Parry for Wednesday, 31 October, and Thursday, 1 November. The public hearings will be in Whangarei all day on Wednesday, 31 October, at Quality Hotel, Riverside Drive, Whangarei and in Paihia on the afternoon of Thursday, 1 November, at Copthorne Hotel, Paihia. Submitters in Whangarei and Paihia are currently being contacted in regards to the timing and location of hearings.

Justice and Electoral (Wendy Proffitt, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee considered the Human Rights Amendment Bill, which is due to be reported by 1 November. It will consider this bill again next week.

The committee will hear submissions on the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill in November.

Please contact the Clerk of the Committee for further information about the committee’s meetings for the next month.

Local Government and Environment (David Bagnall, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met in Auckland on Tuesday and is currently meeting in Wellington to hear evidence on the Local Government (Rating) Bill. Submissions were heard from several regional, city and district councils, property investors, sporting associations, utility companies and ratepayer groups. Other submitters included Federated Farmers (Auckland Province), Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern), the Tourism Industry Association, the Community Services Council, New Zealand Secular Society, Hospitality Association, Motel Association and Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu. The main topics for discussion were owner liability for rates, the definition of rating units, exemptions and remissions, targeted rates and differential rating, the 30 percent cap on uniform annual general charges, and Maori freehold land. The committee has completed hearing evidence on the bill, which will be considered in closed session next Wednesday.

A subcommittee met on Thursday evening to consider the inquiry into the role of local government in meeting New Zealand’s climate change target.

On Thursday, the committee presented its report on the Taranaki Regional Council Empowering Bill. This local bill widens the powers of the Taranaki Regional Council so it can participate in and fund a range of activities in the Taranaki region for the benefit of the regional community. The committee has recommended the bill be passed with amendments, including the following:

- For each project the Taranaki Regional Council must obtain agreement from the district councils in the region and conduct public consultation, provided that agreement reached and consultation conducted prior to passage of the bill will be deemed to have been obtained under provisions in the bill.

- The council may apply “the Fund’ (proceeds from the sale of some endowment land) for other lawful purposes, not only those set out in the bill.

- Internal borrowing will be permitted for the Rugby Park project, subject to other relevant legislation and the council’s investment policy and borrowing management policy.

Maori Affairs (Marcus Ganley, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

Next week the committee’s focus will be on financial reviews. To progress the financial reviews the committee will meet twice, once during the lunch break on Tuesday from 1.15 pm to 1.40 pm to receive advice on the financial review of Te Puni Kokiri and again on Thursday morning.

The regular Thursday morning meeting will commence with a visit from the Committee on National Cultural Communities from Republic of the Philippines. This will be followed by hearings of evidence on the financial reviews of Te Puni Kokiri and Te Mangai Paho. The meeting will conclude with a briefing from the Department of Courts.

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

The committee did not meet this week. Next week it continues consideration of the Biosecurity Amendment Bill. It will also start consideration of the 2000/01 financial reviews.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Lyn Main, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee is travelling to Auckland on 31 October for a site visit concerning transport issues in the area. The office of the Mayor of Auckland has arranged for the committee to visit various parts of the city for briefings on transport developments including urban development, public transport, bus lanes and motorways.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

Consumer Protection (Definitions of Goods and Services) Bill (15 January 2002)

TOWER Trust Limited Bill (15 January 2002)

Education and Science

Inquiry into teacher education (14 December 2001)

Government Administration

Citizenship Amendment Bill No 3 (2 November 2001)

Health

Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill and Supplementary Order Paper No 148 (23 November 2001)

Maori Affairs

Inquiry into the operations and performance of the Crown Forestry Rental Trust (29 October 2001)

Inquiry into the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission (Te Ohu Kai Moana) (15 February 2002)

Te Uri o Hau Claims Settlement Bill (9 November 2001)

Regulations Review

The Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 2) (9 November 2001)

Social Services

Commissioner for Children Bill (19 November 2001)

Social Workers Registration (19 November 2001)

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, 26 October 2001

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