Select committee business From 21 April to 28 April 2003 Committee meetings

There were 19 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex.

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

Commerce 2001/02 financial review of the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited

Government Administration 2001/02 financial review of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission 2001/02 financial review of the Building Industry Authority Inquiry into the weathertightness of Buildings in New Zealand (I.5B)

Finance and Expenditure Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Statement, March 2003

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade International treaty examination of the International Labour Organisation Convention 98 Concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively

Health 2001/02 financial review of the Counties Manukau District Health Board

Justice and Electoral Conveyancers Bill (72-1)

Local Government and Environment Masterton Trust Lands Bill (210-2) Petition 1999/170 of Ross Carter and 7447 others

Officers of Parliament Alterations to the 2002/03 appropriations for Vote Audit, Vote Ombudsmen and Vote Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and the 2003/04 draft budgets for the Auditor-General, the Office of the Ombudsmen and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (I.15B)

Bills referred to select committees

The Industry New Zealand and Trade New Zealand Integration Bill was referred to the Commerce Committee with a report due by 28 April 2003.

Changes in committee membership

Local Government and Environment David Parker replaced David Cunliffe. Ashraf Choudhary replaced Hon Dover Samuels.

Commerce Russell Fairbrother replaced David Parker.

Government Administration David Cunnliffe replaced Russell Fairbrother.

Transport and Industrial Relations Dave Hereora replaced Hon Harry Duynhoven.

Social Services Hon Harry Duynhoven replaced Dave Hereora.

Primary Production Hon Dover Samuels replaced Ashraf Choudhary.

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

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

The committee met on Thursday, 27 March to further consider the Anglican (Diocese of Christchurch) Church Property Trust Bill and to look at possible inquiries. The committee is not meeting next week.

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

The subcommittee met on Wednesday, 26 March to hear evidence and consider the inquiry into decile funding in New Zealand State and integrated schools.

The whole committee also met on Wednesday and heard evidence on the 2001/02 financial reviews of Early Childhood Development, the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

Next week the subcommittee will meet on Wednesday, 2 April to consider the inquiry into decile funding in New Zealand State and integrated schools.

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

The committee met this week to consider the 2003 Estimates of Appropriations and the March 2003 Monetary Policy Statement. Additionally, the committee considered the petition of Mike Gibson, the petition of Neil Leckie, and two others. The committee is not scheduled to meet next week.

Submissions on the Income Tax Bill are currently being received. The closing date for these is Thursday, 24 April 2003. Information on the bill may be found at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/programme/committees/submissions/ and at http://www.taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/.

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

The committee met this week to hear evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of Trade New Zealand. The committee also heard evidence on the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Amendment Bill and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Stockholm Convention) Amendment Bill. The committee is to consider these two bills when it next meets on Thursday, 3 April. The committee also presented its International Treaty Examination report on International Labour Organisation Convention 98 Concerning the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively.

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

On Tuesday, 25 March the committee presented reports on its inquiry into the weathertightness of buildings in New Zealand and the 2001/02 financial review of the Building Industry Authority. The committee also presented its report on the 2001/02 financial review of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission on Friday, 21 March.

The committee’s inquiry report made 63 recommendations to the Government aimed at improving the building industry in New Zealand, to ensure that buildings are properly constructed and safe, and if not, that means of redress are available to homeowners. The recommendations focus on:

the extent of the weathertightness problem building materials and products – untreated timber and monolithic cladding the level of detail provided with building consent applications the building inspection regime the split responsibility between territorial authorities and building certifiers the decline in level of skills within the building industry health issues consumer protection measures the Building Research Association of New Zealand the Building Industry Authority the Review of Building Act 1991.

The committee’s inquiry arose because some New Zealand homeowners have suffered significant problems caused by leaky buildings. While the findings of the inquiry did not directly resolve the individual issues of the homeowners who made submissions on the inquiry, the issues they raised identified areas within New Zealand’s building control regime that require immediate review.

The committee received 223 submissions on the inquiry, and heard 87 of the submissions at hearings held in Wellington, Christchurch, and Auckland.

The committee’s financial review report of the Building Industry Authority examined the Authority’s response to the weathertightness issue, and its operational and financial performance in the 2001/02 financial year. The report acknowledged factors beyond the authority’s control contributed to the weathertightness issue, but urged the authority to be proactive and provide effective leadership on building issues in New Zealand.

The committee’s report on the 2001/02 financial review of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission focused on the continuing decline in sales of lottery products. The decline has led to a reduction in the commission’s grant to the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, which is impacting on community organisations that rely on the board for funding.

The committee next meets on Thursday, 10 April.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, when it heard evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of the Health Sponsorship Council, and continued consideration of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill. On Thursday the committee reported on the 2001/02 financial review of the Counties Manukau District Health Board.

Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, when it will hear evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of the Canterbury District Health Board. This will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 11.30 am in Room G.003, Parliament House. It will also continue consideration of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill.

The committee is inviting submissions on the Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill, which will close on Friday, 11 April. For more information on this bill and on how to make a submission, please refer to www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Programme/Committees/Submissions/hehspb.htm

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

The committee met on 26 March to consider its inquiry into the 2002 General Election, the Retirement Villages Bill, the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill and the Clean Slate Bill. The committee’s next meeting will be on 9 April, when it will continue to consider the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill and the Clean Slate Bill. It will also hear evidence from the Legal Services Agency on its financial review for 2001/02. The meeting will be open to the public between 11.40 am and 1.00 pm for this hearing of evidence, in Room G.005, Parliament House.

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

This week the committee met to consider the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill, which is now due to be reported by 30 June 2003.

The committee is not meeting next week due to the likelihood of the House being in urgency. The committee next meets on Wednesday, 9 April to further consider the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill. It is also likely consider the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill, two petitions and general business.

The committee is still seeking submissions on the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Bill and the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill, copies of which can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops.

The Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Bill ensures that law enforcement and national security capability are not seriously eroded by changes in technology. It places a legislative obligation on telecommunication network operators to be technically able, if required under an interception warrant or any other lawful interception authority, to: intercept telecommunications; investigate serious offences; and help protect national security. This bill does not change or extend in any way the existing powers of the New Zealand Police, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, and the Government Communications Security Bureau (the surveillance agencies) to intercept telecommunications.

The Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill changes the name of the Police Complaints Authority to the Independent Police Complaints Authority. It also increases the authority’s membership to three persons. The chairperson will be a current or former judge will be supported by two other members. As with the existing authority, the members will be appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the House of Representatives.

The closing date for submissions on both bills is 9 April 2003.

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

The committee met on 27 March and heard submissions on the Marine Reserves Bill from Federated Farmers and the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences. The committee will hear further submissions in Auckland on 14 April.

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

The committee continued hearing evidence, primarily from the Ministry of Fisheries, on its inquiry into the administration and management of the scampi fishery on Tuesday and Thursday, 25 and 27 March. The committee will next meet on 10 April to further consider the inquiry.

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

At the committee’s meeting on 27 March it heard evidence from the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services on three petitions from John Tonson about the rights of children and the actions of the department in proceedings before the Family Court. The committee also considered further a briefing from the Ministry of Social Development on the New Zealand Living Standards 2000 Report. As the House is expected to be meeting under urgency next week the committee will not meet.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 27 March to hear further submissions on the Land Transport Management Bill and the Road Traffic Reduction Bill.

The committee will not meet next week but will resume hearing submissions on the same bills at its next meeting on Thursday, 10 April. The committee is programmed to meet from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and from 3.30 pm to 6.00 pm. The meeting will be open to the public during the hearings of submissions.

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

Commerce Consumer Credit Bill (3 April 2003) Status of Redundancy Payments Bill (17 April 2003) Industry New Zealand and Trade New Zealand Integration Bill (10 April 2003)

Finance and Expenditure Income Tax Bill (24 April 2003)

Health Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill (11 April 2003)

Justice and Electoral Supreme Court Bill (11 April 2003)

Law and Order Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill (9 April 2003) Telecommunications (Interceptions Capability) Bill (9 April 2003)

Local Government and Environment Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill (31 March 2003)

Primary Production Wool Industry Restructuring Bill (14 April 2003)

Transport and Industrial Relations Holidays Bill (30 May 2003) Holidays (Four Weeks Annual Leave) Amendment Bill (6 June 2003)

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 ph: 471 9534, fax: 499 0486, or at carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 28 April 2003

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