Parliament Expresses Sadness At Death Of King of Tonga

Prime Minister John Key moved a motion noting MPs sadness at the death of the King of Tonga when Parliament resumed today.

Key said King George had been the architect of democracy in Tonga, while Labour Leader David Shearer said his loss would be felt keenly as he had set Tonga on a new course.

The motion passed on a voice vote.

A paper was presented from a member of the public regarding comments made about her in the House by Pete Hodgson in 2011.

The Government Response to the Report of the Regulations Review Committee on "Orders in Council made under the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010 and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011" was presented as was the Government Response to Report of the Standing Orders Committee on Review of Standing Orders.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report ``Water Quality in New Zealand Understanding the Science’’ and the Auditor General’s report ``Severance payments a guide for the public sector’’ were presented.

Select Committee Reports were presented on the Petition 2008/140 of George William Stanley King and 40 others by the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee and the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (326-2) by the Finance and Expenditure Committee

The Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill was introduced.

MPs began Question Time.

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