Parliament 17 March 2015

The order paper is here.

Oral Questions 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

  1. ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he still believe that people who oppose the deployment of New Zealand soldiers to train Iraqi Government forces need to “get some guts and join the right side” in light of widespread evidence that Iraqi Government forces are committing war crimes?
  2. Hon JUDITH COLLINS to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received about higher employment, consumer confidence, and economic growth?
  3. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: What advice, if any, has he received on the causes of rheumatic fever?
  4. JOANNE HAYES to the Minister for Housing: What support is the Government providing to families in Christchurch in need of short-term housing?
  5. to the Minister of Finance: Can workers still expect that the average wage will rise to $62,000 in the next three years, as he stated during the period of the election campaign in 2014?
  6. BARBARA STEWART to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement regarding the closing down of a health centre, published on Newstalk ZB this morning, “there's no facility in Wellsford that is closing, and that is what my officials have told me”?
  7. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Transport: Why was the Government's new to double-lane ten Northland bridges not announced by him or the New Zealand Transport Agency?
  8. SCOTT SIMPSON to the Minister of Civil Defence: What reports has she received on the impact of Tropical Cyclone Pam on New Zealand?
  9. DENIS O'ROURKE to the Minister of Transport: When will the detailed plans, designations and construction schedule be available for the full Pūhoi to Wellsford motorway?
  10. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
  11. SIMON O'CONNOR to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent announcements has the Government made regarding responsible lending?
  12. Dr MEGAN WOODS to the Minister for the Environment: Has he, along with the Minister of Local Government, released for public consultation the discussion document on the statutory review of Environment Canterbury and options for regional governance, as advised to do by November 2014 in the Briefing to Incoming Ministers; if so, when?

National: Four patsies on the economy, Christchurch housing, Cyclone Pam and loan sharks

Labour: Five questions on Iraq, rheumatic fever, wages, Northland roads, and ECan

Greens: One question on does PM stand by all his statements

NZ First: Two questions on Wellsford health centre and Northland roads

Maori Party: One question on treatment of Iriheke Pere

Government Bills 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm

Appropriation (2013/14 Confirmation and Validation) Bill – 2nd reading

This bill confirms and validates unappropriated expenditure and validates excess net asset holdings for the 2013/14 financial year.

Introduced: December 2014
1st reading: February 2015, passed unanimously

This bill is not debated.

Harmful Digital Communications Bill – second reading

The Bill aims to “mitigate the harm caused to individuals by digital communications and to provide victims of harmful digital communications with a quick and efficient means of redress.” by creating a new civil enforcement regime to quickly and effectively deal with harmful digital communications; creating new criminal offences to deal with the most serious harmful digital communications and making some small amendments to existing legislation to clarify their application to digital communications and cover technological advances.

Introduced: November 2013
1st reading: December 2013, passed unanimously
Select Committee Report: May 2014, supported unanimously, with amendments

The debate can be up to two hours.

Construction Contracts Amendment Bill – committee stage continued

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. Part 1 is still being debated.

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

Statutes Amendment Bill (No 4) – committee stage

The bill makes minor changes to the local government acts and the Official Information Act.

Introduced: May 2014
1st reading: April 2014, passed without dissent
Select Committee report: July 2014, supported unanimously with amendments
2nd reading: March 2015, passed without dissent

A provision relating to travel perks for former MPs will be dropped, following objection from the Green Party.

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) and there are 33 parts.