John Key's post election flush had barely left his face before the Commentariate was pronouncing on the inevitability of his defeat in 2014. And arguably with good reason.
Lacking a political partner capable of delivering numbers over the long-term, National seems to have little to fall back on after the current term. United Future won't survive the retirement of Peter Dunne and ACT is unlikely to experience a liberal revival under Banks' stewardship, even if his party's management board will have reason to be pleased with the policy concession chivvied out of National in the party's confidence and supply agreement.
But a commitment to continue work on the Regulatory Standards Bill and the introduction of a legislated spending cap doth not a spring of classical liberalism make. In the end Banks is a Tory with more in common with Colin Craig's Conservative Party than with his core constituency. This is not lost on ACT's founding members who see in Banks' foreshadowed 'rebranding' of the Party the basis of an ideological shift that will alienate the deep pockets who have kept ACT going in spite of itself.
The possibility that ACT's disaffected liberals will look for another political home and, not finding one, build a new political organisation ought not to be discounted. However given that the Conservative's Colin Craig may be reluctant to play Sancho to Banks' Quixote, the more likely scenario is of a continuation of the status quo; one that is unlikely to see ACT return to its heady days of 7.1% support and a Parliamentary presence that owed considerably less to the vagaries of National's grace and favour.
So, is that it? Does National soldier on to inevitable defeat in the face of a recovering Labour and Green militantism? Well, yes, if you discount the Māori Party.
The pundits certainly have. Labelling the Māori Party as the losers of the 2011 election they have returned to what may be a tired set of assumptions about the nature of the Māori constituency and, in particular, its preferred status as client to Labour's patron. But is that valid? The Māori constituency is an evident plurality and one which arguably is reflected in the current split in the Māori seats. There is a place for a centrist political voice and the pragmatic aspiration of always being the Party of Government.
The Māori Party's problems, though, are different ones. Most significant among them is its capacity to survive the departure of co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples in 2014. But that is an altogether different story and one that will hinge on the extent to which Te Ururoa Flavell can make the transition from MP to credible political leader. He will be given some help by the confidence and supply agreement with National that will allow the Māori Party more flexibility on contentious policy issues, the mixed ownership model for stated-owned assets being a notable case in point.
Key for his part sees 2014 as a 50/50 proposition. Senior MPs report that he is under no illusions, but that equally he is ready to abandon incrementalism, push hard on asset sales and let the chips fall where they may.
David Shearer has been elected leader of the Labour Party, with Grant Robertson the deputy. Both men represent a break from the old guard, having only entered Parliament in the last term.
Shearer proclaimed "I am a fresh face for Labour and I represent a fresh start for New Zealand." We will see next week whether his front bench also comprises fresh faces. If the speculation is correct, Shearer will face some tough decisions about whether the senior MPs who supported him should be relegated to the back benches to keep up the rejuvenation message, or rewarded for their support with senior roles.
Care is also needed to ensure the separate voting blocs do not become enduring factions within caucus, turning the re-building into in-fighting. The positions given to the other leadership contenders David Cunliffe and Nanaia Mahuta will be important in managing that risk.
For all the introspection, Labour will also have to watch its flanks from the large Green and New Zealand First caucuses that join it on the Opposition benches. If it spends too much time navel gazing, Labour could lose the limelight to those parties, but also needs to manage relationships with them carefully, as they will be key to Labour's chances of success at the 2014 election.
Shearer will also face a tough and very public challenge next week leading the debate of no confidence in the Government, a task that Cunliffe would have relished. As well as re-building his party, he must make a good first impression as Leader of the Opposition.
A week is a long time in politics, and Shearer is in for one his toughest weeks yet.
John Key has announced his new line up of Ministers. The departure of Georgina te Heuheu, Wayne Mapp and Simon Power provided the need for new Ministers, and there has also been a re-shuffle of some portfolios.
Hekia Parata receives Education from Anne Tolley, who in turn inherits Judith Collins' former portfolios of Police and Corrections. Collins receives ACC (formerly Nick Smith) and Justice (formerly Simon Power). The ACC portfolio will be challenging, given the upcoming reform to introduce completion into the Work Account.
Gerry Brownlee keeps Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, and picks up Transport from Steven Joyce. Joyce receives Economic Development (formerly Brownlee), Science and Innovation (formerly Wayne Mapp) and the re-named Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment.
Paula Bennett has kept the Social Development portfolio and will lead the welfare reforms.
Nathan Guy and Craig Foss have been promoted from outside- to inside-Cabinet, and Amy Adams is also a new Cabinet Minister, picking up the Communications and Information Technology portfolio. Maurice Williamson remains a Minister outside Cabinet, now joined there by Chris Tremain, Jo Goodhew and Chester Borrows.
The full Ministerial list can be found here.
Over the course of last week, National Party Leader John Key announced confidence and supply agreements with ACT, United Future and the Māori Party.
ACT's and United Future's agreements commit those parties to supporting National with confidence and supply, and in passing legislation to effect to policies outlined in National's Post-Election Action Plan. In contrast, the Māori Party has agreed to support the National-led Government on confidence and supply only. National with ACT and United Future have 61 out of 121 seats, enough to pass legislation without the Māori Party.
National's legislative priorities identified in its Action Plan include:
- Implementing the Mixed Ownership Model reform, by selling shares in Air New Zealand, Genesis, Mighty River Power, Meridian and Solid Energy, but ensuring that the Crown keeps a 51% shareholding.
- Introducing legislation to bring competition to the ACC work account.
- Slowing the phasing-in of the Emissions Trading Scheme and allowing off-setting for pre-1990 forest owners.
- Amending the RMA to have six-month time limits on consenting medium-sized projects.
- Re-introducing a youth rate for the minimum wage.
- Introducing tougher consumer credit laws.
- Establishing the Crown Water Investment Company to invest up to $400 million in irrigation and water storage.
- Introducing a competitive new system for processing oil and gas exploration permits.
- Amending the Social Security Act to comprehensively reform benefits, sanction beneficiaries whose drug-taking affects their job prospects and cut off the benefits of beneficiaries avoiding arrest warrants. Key also mentioned on election night that welfare reform would be a top priority.
- Further law and order reforms, including passing the Search and Surveillance Bill.
The full Plan can be accessed here.
In return for their support, ACT, United Future and the Māori Party each received the following:
ACT
John Banks gains the following ministerial positions:
- Minister for Regulatory Reform (held by Rodney Hide last term);
- Minister for Small Business;
- Associate Minister of Education (with delegated authority to lead the work on charter schools and the interface between public, integrated and independent schools); and
- Associate Minister of Commerce.
He will also be appointed as a member of the Expenditure Control Cabinet Committee, the Economic Growth and Infrastructure Cabinet Committee, and the Appointments and Honours Cabinet Committee.
National and ACT agree to work together on the following reforms (amongst others):
- Amend the Resource Management Act to simplify and increase the efficiency of planning processes, for example by legislating to ensure there is only one "unitary" plan for each district. The issue of RMA reform is to be a standing item in the regular National/ACT leadership meetings.
- Regulatory Standards Bill: John Banks will take on the position as the Minister of Regulatory Reform and will work with the Minister of Finance with a view to enacting new regulatory legislation within the next 12 months. For more detail, see the Regulatory Standards Bill article below.
- Amend the Public Finance Act to include a spending cap (based on population growth and inflation), and to require the Minister of Finance to explain to Parliament any unplanned breach of the spending cap and the measures that will be taken to ensure that in future expenses do not exceed the cap.
- ACC: introduce competition for ACC's Work Account by allowing the participation of private insurers and implement policy to mitigate ACT's concerns that ACC will pose a risk to the competitive process if it remains a contender in this market.
The National-ACT confidence and supply agreement can be found here.
United Future
Peter Dunne has been reappointed as Minister of Revenue and the Associate Minister of Health, and newly appointed as Associate Minister of Conservation.
National and United Future agree to work together to promote some of the broad principles and policies advanced by United Future, including the following:
- Introducing a 49% statutory limit on the sale of public assets to private interests (including limits on the extent of single entity ownership).
- No sale of any part of Kiwibank or Radio New Zealand.
- Continuing to develop the long term medicines strategy for quality use of pharmaceuticals in the health sector. This strategy also promotes an enhanced role for pharmacists in patient medicines management.
- Support public private partnerships for major roading infrastructure developments, in particular the Transmission Gully highway.
- Maintain at least current Budget 'funding tracks' for TVNZ and Radio New Zealand to ensure they continue their existing public broadcasting roles.
- Reinstating the Tax Income Sharing Bill. If enacted, this Bill would provide an annual tax credit for couples who have responsibility for a dependent child. However, National has not at this stage committed to supporting its enactment.
- Changing legislation to improve the management of wild game and improve opportunities to hunt wild game, including promoting the passage of the Game Animal Council Bill to establish the Council as a statutory body.
- Establishing within the Families Commission a new branch responsible for monitoring, evaluation and research functions.
- Redirecting $4 million over four years to fund additional parenting programmes and relationship education in secondary schools.
- Reducing elective surgery waiting lists by greater utilisation of private hospital capacity.
The National-United Future confidence and supply agreement can be found here.
The Māori Party
Tariana Turia gains the following ministerial positions:
- Minister responsible for Whānau Ora;
- Minister for Disability Issues;
- Associate Minister of Health;
- Associate Minister of Housing;
- Associate Minister for Social Development; and
- Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment.
She will also be appointed as a member of the Social Policy Cabinet Committee, the Appointments and Honours Cabinet Committee and the Treaty of Waitangi Cabinet Committee.
Pita Sharples is reappointed as Minister of Māori Affairs, Associate Minister of Education and Associate Minister of Corrections. He will also be appointed as a member of the Social Policy Cabinet Committee, the Economic Growth and Infrastructure Cabinet Committee and the Treaty of Waitangi Cabinet Committee.
National agrees to implement the following policies advanced by the Māori Party:
- Whānau Ora: supporting and enhancing the ability of Māori families to achieve maximum health and wellbeing; establishing a stand-alone commissioning agency in the next year.
- Poverty: establishing a Ministerial Committee on Poverty, increasing funding to the Government's rheumatic fever programme, and targeting low income homes for home insulation.
- Education: raising Māori achievement in primary, secondary and tertiary education, and increasing Māori participation in early childhood education.
- Employment and training: promoting the proportionate allocation of jobs, training places, and training apprenticeships.
- Housing: progressing options for iwi housing providers.
- Environment: collaborative approaches to freshwater governance, to the current review of the Crown Minerals Act 1991, and to introducing off-setting for pre-1990 forests.
- Constitutional review: having the established advisory panel deliver its recommendations to the Government in September 2013.
- The 4G Spectrum: concluding discussions between the Minister of Māori Affairs and the Minister for Communications and Information Technology by May 2012.
- Supporting two Māori Party-sponsored Member's Bills through to Select Committee (the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill, and a cultural heritage Bill to recognise Matariki/Puanga and to honour the peace-making heritage established at Parihaka).
- Tobacco reform: supporting the introduction of further anti-smoking initiatives.
- Māori Development: including shifting the focus of Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) to urgently address Māori employment and training, housing, and education outcomes.
The National-Māori Party confidence and supply agreement can be found here.
Official election results
The Electoral Commission has announced the official results of the general election, after a recount of all votes cast on polling day and having counted the special votes:
Party |
Seats |
National |
59 |
ACT |
1 |
United Future |
1 |
Māori Party |
3 |
Labour |
34 |
Green Party |
14 |
New Zealand First |
8 |
Mana |
1 |
TOTAL |
121 |
The election was closer than it may seem: If either John Banks or Peter Dunne had failed to win their respective electorate seats, then Labour would have picked up another list seat and National would then need to rely on the Māori Party to govern and to pass its mixed ownership model legislation.
The key changes from the preliminary election night count are as follows:
- The National Party has lost one list seat (Aaron Gilmore), bringing its total to 59.
- The Green Party has gained one seat (Mojo Mathers), bringing its total to 14.
- National Party candidate Nicky Wagner has won the Christchurch Central seat with a majority of 45 votes. The preliminary result for the electorate had been exactly tied between Wagner and Labour's Brendon Burns.
- Labour Party candidate Carmel Sepuloni has won the Waitakere seat with a majority of just 11 votes, defeating incumbent Paula Bennett (who remains in Parliament as a list MP).
There has already been a judicial recount in Christchurch Central, where Nicky Wagner was confirmed by 47 votes (the first official count had her winning by 45 votes). A judicial recount in Waitakere is underway. In a judicial recount a District Court Judge, or his/her appointed officer, supervises the recounting all votes and can remake any decision of the Returning Officer, such as decisions on which special votes are valid and which votes are 'informal' and so do not count towards any candidate.
The full Ministerial list can be found here.
The Electoral Commission will embark on a review of MMP given that the outcome of the referendum on the electoral system is that MMP will be retained. Under the Electoral Referendum Act 2010, the Commission must conduct a review to determine, through a public consultative process, whether changes to MMP are necessary or desirable and to make any recommendations for changes to the Minister of Justice.
The Commission will call for submissions in mid-February and hold public hearings in April and May. It will then release a proposals paper in August for further public comment, before making issuing its final report by 31 October 2012.
The Commission must consider the following issues:
- Thresholds: Currently a party must receive at least 5% of the total party vote or have a candidate win an electorate seat before the party is eligible to be allocated any list seats. The so-called 'coat tails' rule that allows parties to survive if they can win an electorate seat has come under continued criticism. At this year's election Phil Goff indicated that Labour would abolish that rule, after the cup of tea with John Banks in Newmarket. The 1986 Royal Commission on the Electoral System also recommended a 4% party vote threshold. That would have seen the Christian Coalition enter Parliament in 1996 and New Zealand First stay in Parliament in 2008-2011.
- Proportionality: the ratio of electorate seats to list seats. In 1996 there were 65 electorate seats and 55 list seats. Due to population growth there are now 70 electorate seats. It may be time to reset the formula.
- Dual candidacy: the ability of a person to be an electorate candidate and on a party list. This has become an issue as people are critical of electorate MPs not being re-elected in their electorates but getting back into Parliament on the list. However, it may be difficult to address this issue without causing greater inequities, particularly to smaller parties and potential Ministers who run in marginal electorates.
- A party's ability to determine the order of candidates on its party list and the inability of voters to rank list candidates in order of preference.
- Other issues referred to the Commission or that it chooses to review, expect that it cannot review the total number of seats in Parliament or the issue of Māori representation.
The official result of the referendum was as follows:
Part A - Should New Zealand keep the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system?
- Keep MMP - 56.17%
- Change to another system - 41.06%
- Informal votes - 2.77%
Part B - If New Zealand were to change to another voting system, which voting system would you choose?
- First Past the Post (FPP) - 31.19%
- Preferential Voting (PV) - 8.34%
- Single Transferable Vote (STV) - 11.19%
- Supplementary Member (SM) - 16.14%
- Informal votes - 33.14%
Regulatory Standards Bill gets a new life
Under the National-ACT confidence and supply agreement, Hon John Banks, in his role as Minister of Regulatory Reform, will recommence work on the Regulatory Standards Bill with the Minister of Finance "... to achieve a mutually agreed outcome, based on the Treasury's preferred option (option 5), for enacting within the next 12 months." Accordingly, provided that there is an outcome that can be "mutually agreed" between National and ACT, we can expect a modified Bill to be enacted before the end of 2012.
Treasury's option 5 focuses on strengthening Parliament's review of proposed legislation, and does not give any role to the courts. Ministers would have to draw attention to any bad features contained in proposed legislation, based on a list of matters drawn from existing Legislation Advisory Committee guidelines. This option is modelled on Queensland’s Legislative Standards Act, which requires proposed legislation to be accompanied by explanatory notes containing certain details, including an assessment of consistency with listed "fundamental legislative principles".
For more detail, see our latest Regulatory Alert.
Health Sponsorship Council survey shows support for alcohol regulation reforms
A report of a survey on New Zealanders' attitudes to alcohol reform has been released under the Official Information Act. The Ministry of Health commissioned the report last year, to inform the proposed reform of alcohol legislation. It was conducted by the Health Sponsorship Council, a Crown entity best known for its "smokefree" and "Sunsmart" campaigns.
The survey polled 1,740 participants on their attitudes towards alcohol consumption, its present regulation, and possible reform. The final report was described by Professor Doug Sellman, Director of the National Addiction Centre at Otago University, as the most comprehensive survey on alcohol attitudes in New Zealand he has ever seen. However, the document has never been made available to the public, or to the Select Committee charged with review of the Alcohol Reform Bill.
Although a chief proponent of reform, even Professor Sellmann was surprised that the swing in public attitudes had been so overwhelming. The report found that:
-
57% of those surveyed supported raising the prices of cheap alcohol;
-
66% supported reducing the hours it may be sold;
-
78% supported an increase in the drinking age;
-
82% supported increasing restrictions on promotion; and
-
65% felt that alcohol can presently be purchased in "too many" outlets.
Interviews for the main survey were conducted between May and late August 2010.
The draft results were sent to the office of the Associate Minister of Health, Hon Peter Dunne, last year, with a request for a further $10,000 to peer review and finalise the report. The Minister declined, stating that the money could be better spent elsewhere.
Following the release of the report, Mr Dunne has stood by his decision, and has released a statement that the report was "essentially consistent with the range of public views readily available from other sources". In contrast, Professor Sellmann described the report as "critical to inform a once in a generation reform process".
Significantly, the report indicates substantial public support for the Law Commission's recommendations on alcohol reform that have been resisted by the Government, including an increase in the price of alcohol excise tax. The Government intends to pass the Alcohol Reform Bill this term, and the report will likely place more pressure on its decision to avoid price regulation.
The FMA's strategic priorities
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has released a report which outlines stakeholders' views on the effectiveness of financial markets regulation in New Zealand and formed the basis of the FMA's recently released Statement of Intent.
The Report, "Roadmaps for financial regulation", was prepared by management consultants Oliver Wyman on behalf of the FMA. Stakeholder research was conducted at the start of the year, around the time of the FMA's establishment.
The interviews and surveys with industry, government and other market stakeholders revealed the need for:
- decisive regulatory enforcement;
- commercial familiarisation of financial regulatory issues;
- strong market intelligence and analysis; and
- clear communication between public and other stakeholders.
FMA Chief Executive Sean Hughes said that the strategic implications of the research findings informed the writing of the organisation's Statement of Intent 2011-14, released by the FMA in October.
The full Report can be found here. The Statement of Intent can be found here.
OAG reports on public private partnerships
The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) recently reviewed New Zealand's public private partnership (PPP) environment. Specifically, the OAG looked into the implications that an ongoing programme of PPPs would have on the public sector. Its findings are summarised in the OAG's Report, "Managing the implications of public private partnerships".
The Government has indicated that it intends to focus on the use of PPPs as a way to build infrastructure and to encourage innovation in public service delivery. For example, in 2009 the Government established the National Infrastructure Unit (NIU) within Treasury to guide government agencies in preparing PPPs. Two pilot PPP projects have since been launched with the support of the NIU (Wiri Prison and two schools at Hobsonville Point).
The OAG's Report highlights that an ongoing programme of PPPs will require:
- enhanced community and stakeholder understanding of PPPs;
- improved guidance and support for local government;
- increased public and private sector expertise and capability in relation to PPPs; and
- co-ordinated approaches to managing and reporting on PPPs.
The Report is not a formal consultation document. Its purpose is to enhance understanding of the Government's proposal to build infrastructure through an ongoing programme of PPPs and to inform debate.
The full Report can be found here.
Conservation Authority identifies challenges to freshwater preservation
The New Zealand Conservation Authority recently investigated New Zealand's rivers to identify the challenges posed to balancing interests in using and protecting freshwater. It produced a report, Protecting New Zealand's Rivers, which presents constructive methods for river protection designed to attract governmental support. The proposed methods include:
- implementing a system of river protection similar to that applied to National Parks; and
- establishing a government agency responsible for river preservation.
The Authority found that freshwater take in New Zealand nearly doubled in the last decade and that developmental and agricultural pressure has left many rivers unsafe to swim in. The Authority warns that unless immediate action is taken to address these concerns, our river systems may be permanently lost to degradation.
The Report has been submitted to the Minister of Conservation for consideration, to guide policy development and inform any future implementation of a new scheme such as that proposed by the Authority. In the short term, the Report is intended to reinvigorate debate and stimulate public interest in the state of our river systems.
Climate Change and Emissions Trading Update
New Kyoto successor agreed to
After two extra days of negotiations, the 194-country UN climate change conference in Durban wrapped up on Sunday, with all parties breathing a collective sigh of relief that new accords, to be known as "the Durban Platform", had been agreed to at the last minute.
The results, described by the Chair of the conference as "an imperfect compromise" are as follows:
- the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period, which is due to end in December 2012, will be extended in an agreed second commitment period for five years, with all developed nations subject to its obligations continuing to meet their required emissions reductions;
- all countries (including significant developing nations such as China and India) will enter into negotiations for Kyoto's successor, to be concluded by 2015 and binding by 2020 at the latest;
- the new Green Climate Fund, agreed to last year, was launched. It will receive and distribute billions of dollars promised annually to poorer countries to assist them in developing emissions reductions projects; and
- technical issues were resolved in respect of the monitoring and reporting of emissions, protecting forests, and transferral of clean technologies to developing countries.
The fact that the United States of America, China and Japan have agreed to the plans is significant given that they make up 45% of global emissions and currently sit outside of the Kyoto Protocol obligations.
The next global climate change conference will be held at the end of next year in Qatar, in close cooperation with the Republic of Korea.
Linking Australian and New Zealand emissions trading schemes
Tim Groser, New Zealand Minister for International Climate Change Negotiations, has announced that official steps have been taken to link Australia's and New Zealand's emissions trading schemes. The Australia-New Zealand Carbon Pricing Officials Group (CPOG) has been established to provide senior officials from the two countries with a forum to discuss how the schemes could be linked in a practical and efficient way. Prime Ministers Julia Gillard and John Key agreed in June of this year that a group such as a CPOG would be established in the near future.
Minister Groser and his Australian counterpart, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, have agreed the terms of reference that will shape CPOG's future discussions, set to start next year.
The Ministers noted that collaborating in this area would be a way to promote deeper, more liquid carbon markets both domestically and internationally, while enhancing Trans-Tasman economic closeness. Linking the schemes could commence in 2015, which is when the flexible pricing period for Australia's carbon pricing scheme begins.
Tim Groser has just returned from South Africa, where he attended the annual ministerial conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He was joined by Climate Change Minister Nick Smith for part of the conference.
Australia's carbon pricing scheme
In November, the Australian Federal Parliament passed its much awaited (and debated) Clean Energy Future legislation establishing a carbon pricing scheme. The scheme will effectively operate as a carbon tax for the first three years, before transitioning to a cap and trade scheme similar to New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS). As noted above, it is likely that a trans-Tasman scheme could emerge around the time of this transition.
The new carbon pricing scheme begins on 1 July 2012, and will capture emissions in the stationary energy, industrial processing, resources and waste sectors. A sliding fixed carbon price of $23 per tonne of emissions will apply for the first year, increasing to $24.15 in the second year, and moving to $25.40 in the third year. From 1 July 2015, the scheme will move to a flexible price within a trading scheme, similar to the NZ ETS.
Some key differences from New Zealand's scheme are:
- Australia's scheme will only cover four of the six greenhouse gases recognised under the Kyoto Protocol (however, hydroflurorcarbons and sulphur hexafluoride will be alternatively covered via changes to existing import and manufacturing levies).
- Agriculture and forestry sectors are excluded, but are dealt with in the Government's Carbon Farming Initiative.
- Most liquid fossil fuels are excluded (however, they will be subject to an alternate type of carbon tax via existing fuel tax credits and fuel excise/customs duties from 1 July 2012).
- An opt-in option for liquid fossil fuels is to be established by 1 July 2013.
The legislation also provides for the establishment of a new independent Climate Change Authority to advise on annual scheme emissions caps five years in advance of the stated year and to make recommendations for Australia's long-term emissions reductions goals.
Assistance will be given to internationally trade-exposed businesses, with free allocation of carbon units (similar to New Zealand). The assistance to be given to coal-fired electricity generators is estimated at $5.5 billion in the first five years. At the same time, the Government is hoping to see the closure of approximately 2,000MW of the most emissions-intensive coal-fired electricity generation by 2020.
The Federal Opposition party is strongly opposed to the carbon pricing scheme and has vowed to repeal the entire scheme if it comes into power at the next election (in November 2013). To do this, however, it would need to win control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, currently considered a long shot at best. If this were to eventuate, it could significantly change the climate change landscape both in Australia and New Zealand in 2014/2015.
All Bills and inquiries lapsed with the dissolution of the previous Parliament. The new Parliament will need to reinstate Bills at the stage at which they lapsed, and can also reinstate inquiries. The new Parliament may choose to not reinstate some Bills, which effectively discharges them.
Bail Amendment Act 2011 Commencement Order 2011
Building (Forms) Amendment Regulations 2011
Crimes Amendment Act (No 4) 2011 Commencement Order 2011
Criminal Procedure Act Commencement Order 2011
Education (2012 School Staffing) Amendment Order 2011
Fisheries (High Seas Fishing Notifications—Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna) Amendment Notice (No 2) 2011
Fisheries (High Seas Fishing Notifications—Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) Amendment Notice (No 2) 2011
Fisheries (Remaining Cost Recovery Settlement Balance) Notice 2011
Health Practitioners (Quality Assurance Activity—Hawke's Bay DHB) Notice 2011
Health Practitioners (Quality Assurance Activity—Ormiston Hospital) Notice 2011
Juries Amendment Act 2011 Commencement Order 2011
Securities Act (Group Investment Funds) Exemption Notice 2011
Summary Proceedings Amendment Act (No 2) 2011 Commencement Order 2011
Takeovers Code (Trade Me Group Limited) Exemption Notice 2011
Victims' Rights Amendment Act 2011 Commencement Order 2011
On Tuesday 20 December, the House of Representatives will meet again. The following day (Wednesday 21 December), Parliament will be formally opened by the Governor-General, who will deliver the Speech from the Throne. This followed by the 'Address in Reply' debate, giving MPs the first chance since the election to debate face-to-face. The House is likely to then adjourn until mid-February.
Who |
What |
By when… (2011) |
Department of Conservation |
Rees-Dart Track hut booking system |
13 January 2012 |
Electricity Authority |
2012/13 Appropriations, Authority Path to CRE, and EECA work programme |
9 January 2012 |
Financial Markets Authority |
Proposed requirements for accredited bodies under the Auditor Regulation Act 2011 |
22 December 2011 |
Ministry of Fisheries |
Squid fishery around the Auckland Islands |
23 December 2011 |
New Zealand Food Safety Authority |
Bovine post mortem inspection procedures |
16 December 2011 |
Processed meats - part 4 |
16 December 2011 |
Data Protection for Agricultural Compounds 2011/10 |
15 December 2011 |
Food Standards Australia New Zealand |
Food derived from Insect-protected Corn |
28 January 2012 |
Low THC Hemp as a Food |
1 February 2012 |
Inland Revenue Department |
Deductibility of expenditure on inlet race to dairy shed |
16 December 2011 |
Standard-Cost Household Service for Childcare Providers |
31 January 2012 |
Fertiliser storage facilities, depreciation of buildings, grand-parented structures |
31 January 2012 |
Can income deemed to arise under tax law, but not trust law, give rise to beneficiary income? |
17 February 2012 |
Department of Labour |
Manufacturing sector plan to 2013 |
19 December 2011 |
Support Adventure website and guidance tool |
30 April 2012 |
Best practice guideline for working on roofs |
23 December 2011 |
Guidelines for the safe use of elevating work platforms in the horticultural industry |
13 January 2012 |
Law Commission |
‘New Media’: Rights, Responsibilities and Regulation in the Digital Age’ |
12 March 2012 |
Reserve Bank |
Covered bonds |
16 March 2012 |
Standards New Zealand - Joint Draft Standards |
Personal eye protection |
13 February 2012 |
Oxygen consumption calorimeter |
23 January 2012 |
Explosive atmospheres - equipment, gas and vapour categorisation |
4 January 2012 |
Appliance couplers - household and general purposes |
30 December 2011 |
Standards New Zealand |
Self containment for motor caravans and caravans |
27 January 2012 |
Design and application of outdoor recreation symbols |
27 January 2012 |
New Zealand Transport Agency |
Draft Safer Journeys for Motorcycling Guide |
20 January 2012 |
Who |
What |
By when… (2011) |
Commerce Commission |
Initial Default Price-Quality Paths
for Gas Pipeline Businesses |
19 December 2011 |
Department of Conservation |
Kauri National Park proposal |
tbc |
Canterbury draft guidelines for aircraft access |
Ongoing |
Nelson/Marlborough CMS pre-draft consultation |
December 2011 |
Financial Markets Authority |
Licensing of Auditors and Registration of Audit Firms |
16 December 2011 |
New Zealand Food Safety Authority |
Data Protection for Agricultural Compounds 2011/10 |
15 December 2011 |
Food Standards Australia New Zealand |
Amylomaltase as a Processing Aid (Enzyme) |
14 December 2011 |
Dibromo-dimethylhydantoin (DBDMH) as a Processing Aid |
22 December 2011 |
Ministry of Justice |
Family Court Review |
29 February 2012 |
Reserve Bank |
Basel III: capital adequacy standards |
27 January 2012 |
Standards New Zealand - Joint Draft Standards |
Electric duct heaters |
16 December 2011 |
Firefighters’ helmets |
16 January 2012 |
Codes of conduct for organisations |
26 December 2011 |
IT equipment - energy performance |
23 December 2011 |
IT equipment - computer monitors |
14 December 2011 |
Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres |
14 December 2011 |
Electrical equipment - caplights |
26 December 2011 |
Standards New Zealand |
IT equipment - computers, internal power supplies |
23 December 2011 |
IT equipment - computer monitors |
14 December 2011 |
Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres |
14 December 2011 |
