Parliament 12 March 2015

The order paper is here.

Oral Questions 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

  1. RON MARK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
  2. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement “every Minister believes that the decision that affects them is the one that makes all the difference to the surplus or the deficit”?
  3. Dr JIAN YANG to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received about the growth outlook for the New Zealand economy?
  4. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Transport: How much has been spent in total by the New Zealand Transport Agency on roads in the Northland region under National Land Transport Programmes set by the current Government since it was elected in November 2008?
  5. MARAMA FOX to the Minister of Justice: What advice, if any, has she received about Iriheke Pere given that it is over 18 months since he was shot in the back while he was handcuffed and not resisting arrest?
  6. to the Minister of Transport: What progress has the Government made on completing the Waikato Expressway Road of National Significance?
  7. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister for Climate Change Issues: Is the Government's objective to increase New Zealand's net greenhouse gas emissions or is the Government's objective to decrease New Zealand's net greenhouse gas emissions?
  8. Dr SHANE RETI to the Minister for Economic Development: What reports has he received on GDP growth in New Zealand's regions?
  9. CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of : Does she stand by her statement that in the event a charter school closes before the end of its contract “we will use the usual commercial instruments available to us to recover costs invested by the Government”; if so, which specific provisions of the contract with Whangaruru School allow for the recovery of funds in the event the school closes?
  10. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Development: What recent announcements has she made on steps to protect children?
  11. SUE MORONEY to the Minister for ACC: Does she have confidence in the ACC Board?
  12. SCOTT SIMPSON to the Minister for Small Business: What steps is this Government taking to support growth for small business?

National: Five patsies on economic growth, Waikato roads, regional GDP growth, small business and protecting children

Labour: Four questions on the surplus, Northland roads, charter schools and ACC

Greens: One questions on climate change

NZ First: One question on does PM stand by all his statements

Maori Party: One question on treatment of Iriheke Pere

Government Bills 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm

New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill – first reading

The bill establishes a process for the holding of a postal referendum on which alternative flag design is preferred by voters, and a second on whether that alternative flag or the current flag is to be the New Zealand flag.”

Introduced: March 2015

The debate can be up to two hours.

Construction Contracts Amendment Bill – committee stage

The bill amends the Construction Contracts Act 2002 to remove most of the distinctions between the treatment of residential and commercial contracts under the Act; extend the scope of the Act to apply to contracts for design, engineering, and quantity surveying work; remove the distinction between enforcement of payment determinations and of those relating to rights and obligations and make the enforcement process more efficient.

Introduced: January 2013

1st reading: June 2013, passed 119-1 with only Brendan Horan against
Select Committee report: March 2013, supported unanimously with amendments
2nd reading: March 2014, passed unanimously

The committee stage has no time limit. If fully debated a rough guide can be up to an hour per part (plus title and schedules) so unlikely to be more than four hours.

There are three SOPs to be voted on – one each by Nick Smith, Clayton Cosgrove and Julie-Anne Genter. They all deal with the issue of retention payments.