From 1 March to 8 March 2002
Committee meetings
There were 11 committee meetings, three of which were held out of Wellington. One committee also went on a site visit.

Reports presented (2)
Commerce
Trade Marks Bill (142-2)

Primary Production
Resource Management (Aquaculture Moratorium) Amendment Bill (181-2)

Bills referred to select committees

No bills were referred.

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

Education and Science (Louise Gardiner, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee did not meet this week. Next week the committee will conduct the hearing of the financial review of Learning Media Limited ( www.learningmedia.co.nz), a publisher of educational resource material. The hearing will be open to the public, in Room G.011, Parliament House, from 9.30 am.

The committee will also continue consideration of the financial reviews of New Zealand Pastoral Agricultural Research Institute Limited (AgResearch), Landcare Research New Zealand Limited and Specialist Education Services, and of the Tertiary Education Reform Bill.

Finance and Expenditure (Julian Kersey, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met on Wednesday, 6 March 2002, and considered the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Genetically Modified Organisms) Amendment Bill. It heard evidence on the financial review of New Zealand Post, received a briefing from the Auditor-General on the 2002-2003 work programme, considered the Budget Policy Statement, and heard evidence on the Taxation (Relief, Refunds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

The committee will meet again on Tuesday, 12 March 2002, in room G.006, Parliament House. It will hear evidence on the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Genetically Modified Organisms) Amendment Bill. This hearing will be open to the public from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm. The committee will meet on Wednesday, 13 March 2002, in room G.006, Parliament House. It will hear evidence on the Taxation (Relief, Refunds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. This hearing will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm. The committee will consider the financial review of New Zealand Post and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Genetically Modified Organisms) Amendment Bill. The committee will meet also on Thursday, 14 March 2002, to consider the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Genetically Modified Organisms) Amendment Bill.

Justice and Electoral (Wendy Proffitt, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met on 6 March to hear submissions on its Inquiry into the 2001 Local Elections. Next week the committee will meet on 13 March to consider the Inquiry into the 2001 Local Elections and the Prostitution Reform Bill.

Local Government and Environment (Marie Alexander, SC- LGE@parliament.govt.nz)
The Local Government and Environment Committee has started hearing submissions on the Local Government Bill. The committee has heard submissions in Wellington as well as Invercargill, and will be hearing further submissions in Wellington on 13 March. The committee is also having a site visit to Stewart Island, from 7 to 10 March, for the Rakiura National Park Opening Celebration.

Maori Affairs (Marcus Ganley, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee will meet next Thursday, in Wellington, to hear evidence on the Maori Television Services Bill. The committee's commentary on the Te Uri o Hau Claims Settlement Bill is now available at:
http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/content/640/156bar2.pdf

Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz)
The Primary Production Committee reported back the Resource Management (Aquaculture Moratorium) Amendment Bill on Friday, 8 March 2002, after meeting twice this week to consider the issues and make recommendations about changing the bill. There was a strong interest in the bill with 143 submissions received, of which 90 gave oral evidence.

The committee's commentary, outlining the issues considered and the committee's recommendations, can be found at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/cgi-bin/search-select?cat=33

The committee also received a briefing from the New Zealand Wool Board on Thursday, 7 March 2002, and gave further consideration to the Land Transfer and Cadastral Survey Legislation Bill.

Next week, the committee will consider and hear evidence on the 2000/01 financial review of AgriQuality New Zealand Limited, give further consideration to the Land Transfer and Cadastral Survey Legislation Bill and receive a briefing from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the efforts to eradicate the Painted Apple Moth. Both the hearing of evidence and the briefing are open to the public.

Privileges (Fay Paterson, SC-PR@parliament.govt.nz)
The Privileges Committee will meet on Thursday, 14 March to consider the question of privileges referred on 28 February 2002 relating to information given to the Finance and Expenditure Committee by New Zealand Post Limited.

Regulations Review (Andrew Fieldsend, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz )

The Regulations Review Committee did not meet this week.

Next Wednesday morning the committee will continue its regular scrutiny of new government regulations. It will also further its consideration into the Local Electoral Act Commencement Order 2001, and receive a briefing from the Ministry of Health on the Misuse of Drugs (Classification of Fantasy) Order 2001. The briefing will be open to the public from 8.45 am.

In the afternoon the committee will hear the Bus and Coach Association of New Zealand, which has made a complaint about commercial drivers’ licence fees. The committee has decided to investigate the complaint, which relates to the Land Transport (Driver Licensing and Driver Testing Fees) Amendment Regulations 2001. The hearing will be open to the public from 3.15 pm to 5.00 pm.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Lyn Main, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)
This week the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee heard evidence from the Director of the Maritime Safety Authority for the 2000/01 financial review of the performance and current operations of the company. A report from the committee is due by 8 May 2002. The committee also received a briefing from Department of Labour advisers on the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill.

Next week the committee will begin hearing submissions on the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill.

Closing dates for submissions

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (11 March 2002)
Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 4) (22 March 2002)
Amendments to the Australia New Zealand Joint Food Standards Treaty (15 March 2002)

Government Administration
Statutes Amendment Bill (No 2) (22 March 2002)
Responsible Gambling Bill (2 April 2002)

Justice and Electoral
Retirement Villages Bill (26 April 2002)

Maori Affairs
Te Whanau-a-Taupara Trust Empowering Bill (28 March 2002)

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, 8 March 2002

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