18 June 1999 to 25 June 1999
Committee meetings
There were 20 committee meetings, all within the parliamentary complex. This higher than usual number reflects the heavy
workload and tight deadlines some committees are working with as they seek to consider Estimates and bills with tight
reporting deadlines.
Reports presented (9)
Internal Affairs and Local Government
Estimates for 1999/2000 for Vote Sport, Fitness and Leisure
Estimates for 1999/2000 for Vote Racing
Supplementary Estimates for 1998/99 and Estimates for 1999/2000 Vote Millennium
Social Services
Supplementary Estimates for 1998/99 Vote Social Welfare
Supplementary Estimates for 1998/99 Vote Work and Income
Finance and Expenditure
Supplementary Estimates for 1998/99 (excluding Votes Lands, Millennium,
Security Intelligence, Social Welfare and Work and Income) Health Petition 1996/1611 of
Mark Stephen Williams and 4836 others
Petition 1996/1858 of Neil Paisley and 157 others and Petition 1996/1859 of John Wright
Maori Affairs Taonga Maori Protection Bill (166-1)
Bills referred to select committees
No bill were referred.
Committee notes
(for further information on an item, please contact the committee staff noted in italics)
Commerce (Clare Sullivan, Louise Foley)The committee met four times this week, including three meetings that went into
the evening, and completed its hearings of evidence on the Commerce (Controlled Goods or Services) Amendment bill. The
committee will continue its consideration of the bill n ext week. The date the committee has to report the bill to the
House has been extended to 12 July.
The committee also heard evidence on its Estimates Votes Commerce and Communications.
Education and Science (Graham Hill, Tim Cooper)The committee met on Thursday 24 June to hear evidence from the Minister
of Education on Votes Education, and Education Review Office. The committee then heard evidence from the Ministry of
Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQ A) on Vote Education. This included questioning NZQA on the
alleged organisational and operational problems. At the next meeting of the committee on 1 July it will hear evidence
from the Minister of Research, Science and Technology on Vote Research, Science and Technology and the National Librar y
on Vote National Library.
Government Administration (Alan Witcombe, Tracey Rayner)In addition to further consideration of the De Facto
Relationships (Property) Bill and the Matrimonial Property Amendment Bill, the committee has scheduled the following
hearings on Estimates for Thursday, 1 July 1999. All hearings will be held in Room G.005, Parliament House and are open
to the public:
Vote Pacific Island Affairs - hearing from the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs and the Chief
Executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (10.45 am)
Vote Women's Affairs - hearing from the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Women's Affairs (11.30 am)
Vote Youth Affairs - hearing from the Acting Chief Executive of the Ministry of Youth Affairs (12.15 pm).
Health (David Wilson, Sharon Woollaston)On Wednesday the committee began hearing evidence on the Health and Disability
Services (Safety) Bill. The bill revokes current safety legislation and provides a new statutory framework for ensuring
consumer safety in health and disability services. Healt h care services covered by the bill include hospitals,
residential care and rest homes. The bill requires that providers either have a contract with the Health Funding
Authority or be accredited by an agency designated by the Ministry of Health.
The committee heard from the National Council of Women, the New Zealand Medical Association and the New Zealand Council
on Healthcare Standards. While all the submissioners support the intention of the bill, they raised a number of concerns
regarding the way it will be interpreted and applied. The New Zealand Council on Healthcare Standards was particularly
concerned that the bill will duplicate the existing standards-based accreditation system with a new system of
accreditation which has undefined standards, inconsistent application and uncertain protections. It argued that the
creat ion of a dual system, by not including the Health Funding Authority in the coverage of the bill, with create
unnecessary expense and confusion for the sector.
The committee will continue hearing evidence on the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Bill on Wednesday, 7 July.
Internal Affairs and Local Government (Kia Paranihi, Fiona McLean)
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Jack Elder appeared before the committee on Thursday this week with senior
managers of his department and the Chief Executive for the committee's Estimates examination of Vote Internal Affairs.
The committee's report on the 1998/99 Supplementary Estimates and 1999/2000 Estimates for Vote Millennium was presented
on today, concluding the first of the votes to be examined by the committee.
It is due to report back the Marlborough County Council Empowering Act Repeal Bill next week and begin dealing with a
raft of other local bills and the completion of consideration on the inquiry into the early processing of voting papers
at the 1998 local body elections
Justice and Law Reform (Jayne Wallis, Tracey Conlon)
The committee met on Wednesday, 23 June to consider and hear evidence on 1999/2000 Estimates Vote Police. The committee
heard evidence from the Minister of Police as well as the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police. The
di scussion covered a wide range of issues, including the changes in Police output classes, Police numbers, Police cars
and radios, crime rates and responses to crime and youth crime to name a few.
Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday to consider and hear evidence on 1999/2000 Estimates Vote Corrections
and 1999/2000 Estimates Vote Justice and Vote Treaty Negotiations.
M ori Affairs (Jamesa Marino-Fritzsch, Denise Te Karu)The committee presented its report on the Taonga Maori Protection
Bill, recommending the bill be passed without amendment and that it be adopted as a Government bill. This is a member's
bill in the name of Tukoroirangi Morgan seeking to facil itate the repatriation and protection of taonga Maori unique to
New Zealand's cultural heritage.
Transport and Environment (David Bagnall, Karen Smyth)The committee met on Wednesday 23 June to hear evidence from the
Minister for the Environment on Vote Environment of the 1999/2000 Estimates. At the next meeting, on Wednesday 30 June,
the committee begins considering the Estimates for Vote C onservation, and will hear evidence from the Minister of
Conservation. Also next week, the committee will give further consideration to the Conservation (Protection of Trout as
a Non-commercial Species) Amendment Bill and the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Bill. A subcommittee has been formed to
continue consideration of the Energy Efficiency Bill, member's bill introduc ed by Jeanette Fitzsimons.
The Business Committee has extended the date by which the Transport and Environment Committee is required to report
finally to the House on the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Bill. The Committee now has until 16 July 1999 to make its report
to the House.
The committee adjourned briefly this week to enable members to meet informally with members of the Road Safety Committee
of the Parliament of Victoria. The visitors had asked particularly to meet with the Transport and Environment Committee
members to discuss transport and road safety issues.
Closing dates for submissions on bills
Committees are receiving submissions on the following bills with the closing date shown:
Commerce
Commerce Amendment (2 July 1999)
Education and Science
Education Amendment (8 July 1999)
Finance and Expenditure
Taxation (Annual Rates and Remedial Matters) (9 July 1999)
Government Administration
Acts and Regulations Publication Amendment (9 July 1999)
Courts Security (9 July 1999)
Justice and Law Reform
Bail (2 July 1999)
Shop Trading Hours (2 July 1999)
Truth in Sentencing (9 July 1999)
Social Services
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Amendment (No.2) (28 June 1999)
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Trans-Tasman Transfer of Protection Orders and Proceedings)
Amendment (2 July 1999)
General
You can find further information about select committees on our web site at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. If you require
additional information or have any feedback on the contents, please contact: