Select Committee Business

From 5 February to 13 February 2004

Committee meetings

Eighteen committee meetings were held this week, all in the parliamentary complex. There was one site visit.

Reports presented

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

Commerce

2002/03 financial review of the Public Trust and the Takeovers Panel

Education and Science

2002/03 financial review of the Ministry of Education

2002/03 financial review of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology

Health

2002/03 financial review of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Canterbury District Health Board, Hutt Valley District Health Board, MidCentral District Health Board, and Waikato District

Primary Production

2002/03 financial review of Land Information New Zealand

2002/03 financial review of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

2002/03 financial review of the Ministry of Fisheries

Petition 2002/64 of Sarah Jane von Dadelszen and 1070 others

Petition 2002/68 of Gerrard Eckhoff and 65 083 others

Changes in committee membership

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee

Dail Jones replaced Ron Mark

Health Committee

Barbara Stewart replaced Pita Paraone

Law and Order Committee

Ron Mark replaced Edwin Perry

Maori Affairs Committee

Pita Paraone replaced Bill Gudgeon

Social Services Committee

Bill Gudgeon replaced Barbara Stewart

Standing Orders Committee

The new Standing Orders that came into effect on February 2004 established the Standing Orders Committee as a permanent committee. The following members were appointed to the committee:

Hon Jim Anderton, David Benson-Pope, Peter Brown, Gerry Brownlee, John Carter,
Hon Dr Michael Cullen, Rod Donald, Hon Peter Dunne, Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt,
Hon Richard Prebble.

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 started the 2004 year with two meetings this week. On Wednesday and Thursday the committee met in the afternoons to consider and hear evidence on the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No 2).

In the morning of Thursday, 12 February 2004 the committee considered and heard evidence on the 2002/03 Financial Review of Television New Zealand, and furthered its consideration of the Business Law Reform Bill, and the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill.

The committee next meets on Thursday, 19 February 2004 to consider and hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of Solid Energy NZ Ltd. The committee will also receive a briefing from the Office of the Controller and Auditor General about the inquiry into the expenses of Dr Ross Armstrong. The committee will also further its consideration of the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill and the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No 2). The committee will also meet in the afternoon to consider and hear evidence on the Gas and Electricity Industries Bill. The hearings will be open to the public and will be held until 9.30 pm.

Education and Science (Graham Hill, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee reported on its 2002/03 financial reviews of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. At its next meeting the committee will hear evidence on the State Sector Amendment (No 3) Bill and consider further the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Transitional Provisions and Controls) Amendment Bill and the Education (Disestablishment of Early Childhood Development Board) Bill.

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

The Finance and Expenditure Committee met this week to consider the Auditor-General’s draft annual plan for 2004/05 and hear submissions on the 2004 Budget Policy Statement.

The committee is not scheduled to meet next week.

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation (Miles Reay, c/- SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

The Committee met on 10 February 2004. It intends to appoint an independent adviser on the Maori Fisheries Bill and expressions of interest are sought from contractors who consider they have relevant knowledge, experience, and skills to provide advice in the following areas:

Independent analysis and evaluation of the legal content and implications of the bill.

Independent analysis and evaluation of written and oral material submitted to the committee.

Any other issues thought necessary to be brought to the committee’s attention.

Legal qualifications, knowledge of the New Zealand fisheries industry, and experience with the Waitangi Tribunal and Maori issues are preferred.

Applications should be forwarded to the Clerk of Committee by 12.00 pm on Monday 23 February 2004. The successful applicant will be required to commence duties no later than 2 March 2004.

The committee is inviting public submissions on the Maori Fisheries Bill, which implements agreements made in the Deed of Settlement, and referred to in the Treaty of Waitangi 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 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.

The committee will next meet to consider the bill on February 24 2004.

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

The Committee began its consideration of the Mercenary Activities (Prohibition) Bill and next week it will hear submissions on this bill. Also next week the committee will consider further its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with Tonga, and the 2002/03 financial review of the New Zealand Trade Development Board.

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

The committee met on 12 February to consider the Border Security Bill and to hear evidence on the Building Bill.

Next week the committee will meet on 19 February in Wellington to hear evidence from the Chief Executive on the 2002/03 financial review of Sport and Recreation New Zealand. It will also continue hearing evidence on the Building Bill. This will continue in Auckland the following day at the Centra Auckland Airport Hotel, corner Kirkbride and Ascot Roads. All hearings of evidence are open to the public.

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

The committee met on Wednesday to hear evidence from Pharmac on its financial review for 2002/03. The committee also heard evidence from the Order of St John on the petition of Royston Hughes and 952 others. This petition requests the reinstatement of a 24-hour ambulance service based in Marton. The committee also considered other items of business.

The committee will next meet on Wednesday 18 February. The committee will hear evidence from the Capital and Coast District Health Board on its 2002/03 financial review. This will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 11.30 am in room G.003. The committee will also meet with the Standing Committee on Health from the Australian Capital Territory and consider other items of business.

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

The committee met on 11 February to consider its financial reviews of non-departmental entities, its inquiry into the 2002 General Election, and the Care of Children Bill.

It will next meet on 18 February to consider its inquiry into the 2002 General Election, the Care of Children Bill, and the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill.

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

The committee met this week where it continued consideration of the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Bill, and the Police Complaints Authority (Conditional Name Protection) Amendment Bill. It also continued consideration of the petitions currently before it. Next week the committee will continue consideration of the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, as well as hearing evidence on the Police Complaints Authority (Conditional Name Protection) Amendment Bill. The meeting will be open to the public from 10.30am to 11.50am, in Room G.005 Parliament House.

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

The committee met on 12 February to start hearing submissions on the Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Bill. The committee has received approximately 100 submissions and the majority of these are from the Waitaki area.

The committee will be visiting the Waitaki valley on 19 and 20 February. It will be looking at the lower Waitaki catchment on the afternoon of 19 February and will hear submissions in Oamaru in the morning and in Kurow in the evening. It will hear submissions in Oamaru all day on 20 February at the Brydone Hotel.

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

The Committee met on 12 February 2004 to hear evidence from the Chief Registrar of the Maori Land Court on the petition of Des Kahotea and 26 others requesting changes to the Ture Whenua Act 1993.

At its next meeting on 19 February the committee will be briefed by the Office of Treaty Settlements on progress of settlement claims.

The committee will also be briefed on the Controller and Auditor-General’s report on The State Services Commission: capability to recognise and address issues for Maori.

The latter item of business will be open to the public.

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

The committee met twice this week. On 9 February, the committee met all day to:

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 completed hearing evidence on the Resource Management (Aquaculture Moratorium Extension) Amendment Bill. It also gave further consideration to the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No.2) and completed its reports on the 2002/03 financial reviews of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Land Information New Zealand. It commenced consideration of the 2002/03 financial reviews of Animal Control Products Limited and AgriQuality New Zealand Limited.

On 19 February, the committee will commence consideration of the 2002/03 financial reviews of Landcorp Farming Limited and Quotable Value New Zealand Limited. Further consideration will be given the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No.2) and the Resource Management (Aquaculture Moratorium Extension) Amendment Bill.

Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee will meet next week to continue its scrutiny of new Government regulations. The committee will also meet with officials from the Ministry for the Environment and ERMA regarding the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Low-Risk Genetic Modification) Regulations 2003 (SR 2003/152).

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

The committee made a site visit to the Ministry of Social Development Benefit Control Unit in Wellington then heard evidence in Parliament Buildings from the Unit.

Next week the committee will hear evidence from the Controller and Auditor General and the Ministry of Social Development on the Auditor-General’s report Social Security Benefits: Accuracy of Benefit Administration.

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

The committee met on 12 February to hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial reviews of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission. The committee also heard evidence on the Railways Bill.

On 19 February the committee will be open to the public from 9.05 am to 12.55 pm to hear further submissions on the Railways Bill.

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)

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:

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 13 February 2004

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