From 14 April to 17 April 2014

Committee meetings

There were 15 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented

Education and Science Committee

• Briefing from Science New Zealand

Finance and Expenditure Committee

• 2011/12 financial review of Earthquake Commission

• Report from the Controller and Auditor-General, The Auditor-General's Auditing Standards 2014

• Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Statement, March 2014 (I.3O)

• Taxation (Annual Rates, Employee Allowances, and Remedial Matters) Bill (176-2)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee

• 2012/13 financial review of New Zealand Antarctic Institute

Health Committee

• Briefing on matters relating to the Inquiry into improving child health outcomes and preventing child abuse with a focus from preconception until 3 years of age

Justice and Electoral Committee

• Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Bill (68-2)

Law and Order Committee

• 2012/13 financial review of Independent Police Conduct Authority

Māori Affairs Committee

• 2012/13 financial review of Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission)

• New Zealand Mission Trust Board (Otamataha) Empowering Bill (148-2)

• Ngati Haua Claims Settlement Bill (157-2)

• Ngati Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill (161-2)

• Petition 2011/82 of Edward Penetito on behalf of Ngati Kauwhata

Regulations Review Committee

• Complaint regarding the Legal Services Regulations (payment for legal aid work) 2011 (SR 2011/144) (I.16C)

Social Services Committee

• 2012/13 financial review of Housing New Zealand Corporation

Bills referred to select committees

Government Administration

• Statutes Amendment Bill (No 4) (188-1)

Committee notes

Commerce

The committee met on 17 April to consider the 2012/13 financial review of Mighty River Power, Petition 2011/95 of Carol Beaumont and 1,015 others, Petition 2011/96 of David Holm and 1,801 others, and the report of the Controller and Auditor-General Discussion paper: Learning from public entities’ use of social media.

The committee will not meet over the Easter adjournment, and will next meet on 8 May to consider the 2012/13 financial reviews of the Broadcasting Commission and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, to consider the Accounting Infrastructure Reform Bill, and consider and hear evidence on the 2012/13 financial review of Radio New Zealand.

Education and Science

The committee met on 16 April to hear further evidence on its inquiry into engaging parents into the education of their children. The committee also considered the Education Amendment Bill (No 2), submissions on which close on 30 April 2014, and the briefing from Science New Zealand.

The committee will meet on 7 May in Wellington and on 9 May in Auckland to hear evidence on the Education Amendment Bill (No 2).

Finance and Expenditure

The committee met on 16 April when it further considered the 2012/13 financial review of the Earthquake Commission, and the petitions of Deidre Kent and 877 others and of Penelope Bright and 13 others. The Committee also further considered the Inquiry into the mid-term meeting of the Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committees (ACPAC), Melbourne, Victoria, 20 June 2014 and the report of the Controller and Auditor-General, The Auditor-General’s Auditing Standards 2014.

The committee will next meet on 7 May.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

The committee met on 16 April when it further considered the 2012/13 financial review of New Zealand Antarctic Institute. The committee also considered the International treaty examination of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education.

The committee met on 17 April when it received a briefing on the ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty.

The committee will next meet on 8 May.

Government Administration

The committee did not meet this week.

The committee will meet next on 7 May.

Health

The Health Committee met on 16 April 2014 when it heard evidence on the Smoke-free Environment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Amendment Bill and further considered the Briefing on matters relating to the inquiry into improving child health outcomes and preventing child abuse with a focus from preconception until three years of age.

The Health Committee will next meet on 7 May 2014, in Auckland, when it will hear evidence on the Smoke-free Environment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Amendment Bill.

Justice and Electoral

This week the committee heard evidence on the Inquiry into the 2013 local authority elections, and considered the Human Rights Amendment Bill, the Objectionable Publications and Indecency Legislation Bill, the Harmful Digital Communications Bill and the Judicature Modernisation Bill.

The committee will not be meeting next week.

Law and Order

The Law and Order Committee met on 16 April 2014 to consider the 2012/13 financial review of the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

The committee will meet on 7 May 2014 to consider the Parole Amendment Bill.

Local Government and Environment

The committee met on 17 April to consider the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 3), the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill, the Kaikoura (Te Tai-o-Marokura) Marine Management Bill, and the Manukau City Council (Regulation of Prostitution in Specified Places) Bill. It also heard evidence on the Report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Water quality in New Zealand: Land use and nutrient pollution.

The committee is currently calling for submissions on the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill, the Environment Reporting Bill, and the Kaikōura (Te Tai-o-Marokura) Marine Management Bill. The bills all have the closing date for submissions of 17 April 2014.

The committee will next meet on 5 May.

Māori Affairs

The Māori Affairs Committee met this week to further consider the Te Urewera-Tūhoe Bill. The committee also heard from Paul Hamer regarding the briefing on New Zealanders living in Australia.

The committee will next meet on 7 May to consider the 2012/13 financial review of Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (the Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency).

Primary Production

The committee met on 17 April to deliberate on the Food Bill.

The committee will next meet on 8 May when it will consider the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill.

Privileges

The committee met on 16 April 2014 to consider the Parliamentary Privilege Bill, and other items of business before it.

The committee will next meet on 7 May 2014.

Regulations Review

The committee met on 17 April to consider the complaint regarding the Canterbury Earthquake (Building Act) Order 2011, and hear evidence on the inquiry into oversight of disallowable instruments that are not legislative instruments. The committee continued its scrutiny of various legislative instruments and disallowable instruments that are not legislative instruments.

The committee will next meet on 7 May to consider its briefing on the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Regulatory institutions and practices. The committee will meet on 8 May to hear further evidence on the inquiry into oversight of disallowable instruments that are not legislative instruments, and to consider the complaint regarding the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects-Permitted Activities) Regulations 2013. The committee will continue its scrutiny of various legislative instruments and disallowable instruments that are not legislative instruments.

Social Services

The committee met on 16 April to consider the 2012/13 financial review of Housing New Zealand Corporation and to hear further submissions on its inquiry into the funding of specialist sexual violence social services. The meeting was open to the public during the public hearings of evidence on the inquiry. Submitters include TOAH-NNEST Tauiwi Prevention Project, Tauiwi Caucus, as well as the TOAH NNEST Tauiwi Caucus Executive Committee, Counselling Services Centre, Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust (Christchurch), Nga Kaitiaki Mauri, SOS Kaipara, Rape Crisis Dunedin, Women's Health Action Trust, Louise Nicholas, and the National Collective of Rape Crisis and Related Groups Aotearoa.

The committee is not meeting during the Easter adjournment.

The committee is scheduled to next meet on 7 May to consider the Social Security (Clothing Allowances for Orphans and Unsupported Children) Amendment Bill, and to consider and hear further submissions on its inquiry into the funding of specialist sexual violence social services. The meeting will be open to the public from 10.00am – 1.00pm during the public hearings of evidence on the inquiry. Submitters will include Women’s Self Defence Network Wahine Toa, WellStop Gisborne, Rape Crisis (Hawkes Bay), Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation.

Standing Orders

The committee met in the evening of 15 April to consider the Review of Standing Orders, and will continue to do so at its next meeting, on 6 May. This review traditionally takes place in the months prior to a general election with a view to changes in procedure being adopted for the next term of Parliament.

Transport and Industrial Relations

The committee met on 17 April 2014 to consider the Land Transport Amendment Bill and the Immigration Bill (No 2). The committee also heard evidence on the Report of the Controller and Auditor-General: Immigration New Zealand: Supporting new migrants to settle and work.

The committee will next meet on 8 May.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

• Energy (Fuels, Levies, and References) Amendment Bill (17 April 2014)

Education and Science

• Education Amendment Bill (No 2) (30 April 2014)

Finance and Expenditure

• New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Bill (5 May 2014)

Local Government and Environment

• Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill (17 April 2014)

• Environmental Reporting Bill (17 April 2014)

• Kaikoura (Te Tai-o-Marokura) Marine Management Bill (17 April 2014)

Transport and Industrial Relations

• Health and Safety Reform Bill (9 May 2014)

Submissions can be made online

General

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 17 April 2014

© Scoop Media