In this edition:
It's that déjà vu all over again
If a week is a long time in politics, what can be said about the nine month timeframe granted to the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee? more...
9 September 2009
In the course of 19 years on the political stage, you’d expect parties with a strong brand and clear issue-based philosophy to mature. Not, it seems, the Greens.
With the resignation on Friday of veteran MP Sue Bradford, the last vestiges of the ‘old’ Green Party passed. But while the party’s political leadership has been refreshed, its philosophies have not. In fact there seems to be little to distinguish the Greens of today from that inchoate blend of fringe groups that comprised the Alliance Party in 1991.
It’s not that the Greens haven’t had a ready political audience. Like apple pie, the environment is an essential ‘good’ with which most of us, regardless of stripe, could identify. This political transcendence ought to have been one of the Greens’ great strengths. But it has been one on which they have failed - or simply not wanted - to capitalise.
Certainly, former co-leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and, to a lesser extent, the late Rod Donald held to the view that environmentalism and socialism went hand in hand. But in their case, you could always look behind the ‘old politics’ to see a genuine environmental commitment and concern.
Bradford was the same, albeit less evidently so. But talk to her about the environmental merits of coastal shipping, for example, and there could be no doubting her animation. If she could marry green and labour issues she would do so - and with enthusiasm. An old style unionist and new right opponent she was nonetheless a credible voice in a Green Party that showed at least the promise of being greater and greener than it was.
Bradford’s departure now highlights what she, Donald and Fitzsimons leave behind: a party led by a new breed with few Green credentials and unlikely to cut much ice with New Zealand’s political mainstream.
But mainstream backing is not what the ‘new’ Green party seems to want. Faced with an opportunity to broaden its appeal and establish environmentalism as a mainstream political creed, it has chosen instead to regress, apparently hoping to secure its place in the next Parliament with support from the political fringe.
Whether appealing to students and the disaffected will be enough to enable them to carry it off is an open question, particularly if those disaffected by Bradford’s departure vote with their feet. And Bradford may give her backers somewhere to go.
Ever a campaigner, Bradford will not just fade away. A possible tilt at the new Auckland council has already been tipped. So too has a reappearance on the national stage in a different political guise. For the Greens this would be an unwelcome development. It may even be fatal.
Over the past three weeks the House has met under urgency to pass the extension of the Crown Retail Deposit Scheme, pass phase one of the RMA reforms, pass phase two (of three) of the Auckland governance reforms, send the new ETS legislation to Select Committee, and advance other bills.
Biosecurity Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government Bill
Member in charge: Hon David Carter
This short Bill strengthens the penalties under the Biosecurity Act by increasing fines, allowing instant fines to be increased by regulation and allowing the detail of the infringement offences to be determined by regulation. This Bill had its first reading under urgency and has been sent to the Primary Production Committee for swift consideration.
Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government Bill
Member in charge: Hon Nick Smith
This Bill makes amendments to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and requires the stationary energy, fossil fuel (transport) and industrial sectors to enter ETS from 1 July next year. It was introduced on Thursday and received its first reading under urgency, being referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee for report back by 16 November.
Crown Retail Deposit Scheme Bill
Type of Bill: Government Bill
Member in charge: Hon Bill English
This Bill proceeded under urgency as soon as it was introduced, and is now enacted as the Crown Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme Act 2009. The Act gives effect to the decision to extend the Scheme to the end of 2011.
Remuneration Authority Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Government Bill
Member in charge: Hon Kate Wilkinson
The Remuneration Authority (formerly known as the Higher Salaries Commission) determines the remuneration of MPs, judges and others. This Bill would require the Authority to take into account any prevailing adverse economic conditions before confirming remuneration. The intention is to amend the law so that MPs are not given a pay rise by the Remuneration Authority, but without forcing the Authority's hand.
Resource Management (Enhancement of Iwi Management Plans) Amendment Bill
Type of Bill: Member's Bill
Member in charge: Hon Nanaia Mahuta
This Bill would enhance the ability of iwi management plans to influence district plans and policies.
Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill
Type of Bill: Government Bill
Member in charge: Hon Gerry Brownlee
Some subordinate legislation is made under Acts which state that subordinate legislation will lapse unless confirmed or validated by Parliament. This Act confirms or validates a variety of such subordinate legislation.
Biosecurity Amendment Bill
Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill
Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill
Remuneration Authority Amendment Bill
Open for submissions
Bill |
Select Committee |
Submissions close |
Report due |
Antarctica (Environmental Protection: Liability Annex) Amendment Bill |
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade |
15 October |
20 February 2010 |
Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill |
Finance and Expenditure |
13 October |
16 November 2009 |
Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Bill |
Education and Science |
30 September |
13 November 2009 |
Student Loan Scheme (Exemptions and Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Bill |
Education and Science |
2 October |
30 November 2009 |
Submissions not yet called
Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill
Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment Bill
Marine Reserves (Consultation with Stakeholders) Amendment Bill
Methodist Church of New Zealand Trusts Bill
Remuneration Authority Amendment Bill
Submissions closed
Bill |
Select Committee |
Report due |
Arms Amendment Bill (No 3) |
Law and Order |
26 February 2010 |
Biosecurity Amendment Bill |
Primary Production |
6 November 2009 |
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Bill |
Social Services |
27 November 2009 |
Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill |
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade |
28 January 2010 |
Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Amendment Bill |
Justice and Electoral |
19 October 2009 |
Franklin District Council (Contribution to Funding of Museums) Amendment Bill |
Local Government and Environment |
30 April 2010 |
Infrastructure Bill |
Transport and Industrial Relations |
13 November 2009 |
Inquiries Bill |
Government Administration |
28 January 2010 |
Limitation Bill |
Justice and Electoral |
4 February 2010 |
Marine Reserves Bill |
Local Government and Environment |
30 December 2010 |
Motor Vehicle Sales Amendment Bill |
Commerce |
30 December 2009 |
Patents Bill |
Commerce |
5 November 2009 |
Privacy (Cross-border Information) Amendment Bill |
Justice and Electoral |
1 October 2009 |
Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Bill |
Justice and Electoral |
30 March 2010 |
Public Works (Offer Back of and Compensation for Acquired Land) Amendment Bill |
Local Government and Environment |
17 December 2009 |
Radio New Zealand Amendment Bill |
Commerce |
24 December 2009 |
Regulatory Improvement Bill |
Commerce |
12 November 2009 |
Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill |
Justice and Electoral |
20 June 2010 |
Sale of Liquor (Objections to Applications) Amendment Bill |
Social Services |
30 June 2010 |
Search and Surveillance Bill |
Justice and Electoral |
4 February 2010 |
Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill |
Law and Order |
30 November 2009 |
Sustainable Biofuel Bill |
Local Government and Environment |
29 January 2010 |
Taxation (Consequential Rate Alignment and Remedial Matters) Bill |
Finance and Expenditure |
16 November 2009 |
Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill |
Māori Affairs |
31 December 2009 |
International Non-Aggression and Lawful Use of Force Bill
Bills that have recently been reported back to the House from a Select Committee are in bold and the Select Committee reports on these Bills are linked.
Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill (Report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee; now awaiting third reading)
Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2)
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Amendment Bill (No 6)
Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Bill (Report of the Law and Order Committee)
Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill
Dog Control Amendment Bill (No 2)
Education Amendment Bill
Electricity (Continuance of Supply) Amendment Bill
Judicial Matters Bill
Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Bill (Report of the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee)
Legal Services Amendment Bill
Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill
Māori Trustee and Māori Development Amendment Bill
Oaths Modernisation Bill
Public Health Bill
Rail Network Bill
Regulatory Responsibility Bill
Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill (Report of the Primary Production Committee)
Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (Report of the Social Services Committee)
Sentencing (Offender Levy) Amendment Bill
Serious Fraud Office (Abolition and Transitional Provisions) Bill
Settlement Systems, Futures, and Emissions Units Bill
Social Assistance (Payment of New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension Overseas) Amendment Bill (Report of the Social Services Committee)
Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill
Trade (Safeguard Measures) Bill
Trade Marks (International Treaties and Enforcement) Amendment Bill (Report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade)
Trustee Amendment Bill
Unit Titles Bill
Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill (Report of the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee)
Waka Umanga (Māori Corporations) Bill
SOP 32 - Immigration Bill (aspects of this SOP that have been considered have been passed, but other aspects of this SOP are still to be considered)
SOP 39 - Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill
SOP 62 - Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill
Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill
Cultural Property (Protection in Armed Conflict) Bill
Domestic Violence (Enhancing Safety) Bill
Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2)
Gangs and Organised Crime Bill
Immigration Bill
Insolvency Amendment Bill
Palmerston North Showground's Act Repeal Bill
Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill
Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Bill
Crown Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme Act 2009
Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009
Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009
Student Loan Scheme (Repayment Bonus) Amendment Act 2009
Bullseye Rules 2009 (made under the Gambling Act 2003)
Customs and Excise (Rules of Origin) Amendment Regulations 2009
Education (Hostels) Amendment Regulations 2009
Futures Contracts (Commonwealth Securities Limited) Exemption Notice 2009
Health Sector Transfers (Hutt DHB) Amendment Order 2009
Land Transport Amendment Act 2009 Commencement Order 2009
Parliamentary Annuities Determination 2009
Securities Act (New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association Incorporated) Exemption Notice 2009
Securities Act (NZX—Share and Unit Purchase Plans) Exemption Amendment Notice 2009
Securities Act (Rights, Options, and Convertible Securities) Exemption Amendment Notice (No 2) 2009
Sports Fish Licences, Fees, and Forms Notice 2009
Takeovers Code (Abano Healthcare Group Limited) Exemption Notice 2009
This week the House begins a two week recess. It begins a three week sitting period on Tuesday 13 October.
Commerce Committee
Last week the Committee heard from the Chair of the Securities Commission Jane Diplock. The Committee has been hearing submissions on the Motor Vehicle Sales Amendment Bill and the Regulatory Improvement Bill. It also heard the petition of Suzanne Edmonds calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into finance company failures.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee
The Committee has been hearing submissions on the Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill and on the United Nations Convention against Corruption. It also received a briefing from the Baha’i community.
Health Committee
The Committee has heard the petition of Jennifer Hooper regarding New Zealand's maternity system. Last week it began its inquiry into early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.
Justice and Electoral Committee
The Committee has been hearing submissions on the Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Amendment Bill, the Limitation Bill and the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Bill.
Law and Order Committee
The Committee has heard evidence on the report of the Auditor-General into the Department of Corrections' management of offenders on parole.
Local Government and Environment Committee
The Committee has been hearing submissions on the Public Works (Offer Back of and Compensation for Acquired Land) Amendment Bill and the Sustainable Biofuel Bill.
Māori Affairs Committee
Last week the Committee heard evidence on its briefing on the use of tobacco by Māori.
Transport and Industrial Relations Committee
The Committee has been hearing submissions on the Infrastructure Bill.
John Key addressed the United Nations General on Saturday (New Zealand time). His speech reflected the importance of agriculture to New Zealand, as he called on nations to advance free trade by suspending agricultural trade restrictions and food price controls and also called on agricultural producers to join New Zealand in its efforts to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. He called on nations to reconsider newly introduced protectionist measures and make progress on the slow moving Doha round of world trade talks. Key also noted that agricultural emissions make up 14% of global emission, and that the amount of emissions will only increase as demand for food rises. He invited nations to join New Zealand in a global alliance on the reduction of agricultural emissions, which would undertake international research and investment into new technologies and practices to help reduce agriculture-related emissions.
John Key announced that New Zealand will put itself forward for one of the ten temporary seats on the United Nations Security Council. The election for the seat will be held in 2014, with the successful nation sitting from 2015 to 2016.
Key also pledged to continue to increase New Zealand's contribution to internal development, but emphasised quality over quantity and New Zealand's commitment to development in the Pacific. He also re-affirmed New Zealand's commitment to a nuclear free world and UN peace keeping.
Justice Minister Simon Power has announced a proposal for a new Electoral Commission, which will be given overarching responsibility for electoral administration.
The new agency will be an independent Crown entity and will consolidate electoral administration, which is currently between the Chief Electoral Officer, the Electoral Commission, and the Chief Registrar of Electors through the Electoral Enrolment Centre.
Mr Power said that the intention was to remove duplication, as well as remedy the confusion and complexity of the current arrangements.
The proposed restructure will occur in two stages.
- To amalgamate the functions of the Electoral Commission and the Chief Electoral Office well before the 2011 general election; and
- To transfer the functions of the Chief Registrar of Electors to the new Electoral Commission in the next parliamentary term.
The intention is that the new agency will be operational by 1 October next year so it can administer the 2011 general election. The transition will occur in stages so not to disrupt electoral activity and the functions of the current agencies.
Justice Minister Simon Power released the next stage of its proposal to replace the Electoral Finance Act.
The Government proposes to retain the current regime for donations and has presented options for dealing with the vexed question of parallel campaigning.
Further public feedback is being sought. Consultation on the proposal document closes on 30 October. The proposal document can be found at www.justice.govt.nz/electoralfinancereform.
National and the Māori Party will enact changes to the Emission Trading Scheme, with the door being shut on a grand coalition with Labour. Last Thursday the House referred the freshly introduced Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill to the Finance and Expenditure Committee, as the Government hopes to pass the amendments to the ETS before the Copenhagen conference in December.
John Key consistently stated that an ETS must balance environmental and economic concerns and that the new scheme has lessened the economic impact for participants in the ETS. The amendments have also more closely aligned New Zealand's allocation methods with those proposed in Australia, providing the prospect of future linkages between the schemes.
The Government has proposed a comprehensive scheme covering all sectors but with new timeframes to allow for a smoother transition into the ETS. Agriculture will not be introduced to the ETS until 2015 (rather than 2013). The stationary energy, fossil fuel (transport) and industrial sectors come into the ETS with a 50% obligation from 1 July next year (needing to surrender only one unit for every two tonnes emitted), with full obligations taking effect from 1 January 2013. During this transition period to 1 January 2013 participants can purchase units at a fixed purchase price of NZ $25 per tonne, which may create a price ceiling.
The Government has also decided upon an intensity-based allocation of units to trade exposed industries. The allocation will be based on a participant's level of production, altering the previous free allocation on the basis of 2005 emission levels. This significantly increases the number of units freely allocated to participants, easing the financial burden of entering the ETS.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is undertaking a review of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (CCCFA). The Ministry has released a discussion paper that calls for comment and includes proposals for amendment to the CCCFA. The paper does not propose any added restrictions on what fees and interest creditors can charge, but does propose a more onerous and comprehensive disclosure regime, including for credit card statements. It also proposes allowing debtors to access the hardship provisions when they are up to two months in default, requiring security clauses to specifically identify collateral and better aligning the CCCFA with pawnbrokers' legislation.
The discussion document can be found here. Submissions close 16 November.
Minister for Food Safety Kate Wilkinson has announced that there will be a wholesale replacement of the Food Act 1981 and the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 that deal with food preparation and safety. A Bill to modernise and improve the law has been in development for the past two years. This Bill will be introduced within the next 12 months, coming into force in late 2010 or in 2011. It could have a major impact on the food manufacturing and hospitality industries.
Proposed changes include creating a national restaurant grading system, moving to a risk-based system that shifts responsibility from Government to food business operators (as each operator will be required to abide by an appropriate food control plan) and clarifying the standards that apply to food sold within, and exported from, New Zealand. Local authorities will still play a dominant role in food safety, becoming a one-stop-shop for establishing food based businesses.
The Government has now passed the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill, deciding to reverse the Auckland Governance Select Committee's recommendation that the northern boundary dissect the Rodney District. All of Rodney will now be within the super-city, as recommended by the Royal Commission. However the decision to dissect the Franklin District to the south and other Committee recommendations remain.
A third bill will be introduced to provide the remaining detail needed for the new Auckland Council to begin operating from the 2010 local Government elections.
The Ministry of Fisheries has released Fisheries 2030, a strategic direction paper for the future of the fisheries sector in the New Zealand economy. Fisheries 2030 builds on a Cabinet Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee paper that identifies seven areas where the fisheries sector requires improvement: improving the management framework; supporting aquaculture and international objectives; ensuring sustainability of fish stocks; improving fisheries information; building sector leadership and capacity; meeting obligations to Māori; and enabling collective management responsibility.
Fisheries 2030 states that the long-term goal of the fisheries sector is New Zealanders maximising benefits from the use of fisheries within environmental limits. This goal is supported by two main outcome statements:
- use - fisheries resources are used in a manner that provides greatest overall economic, social, and cultural benefit; and
- environment - the capacity and integrity of the aquatic environment, habitats and species are sustained at levels that provide for current and future use.
The release of Fisheries 2030 coincides with the continued rationalisation of legislation affecting the aquaculture sector and a raft of changes to the RMA. It is available here.
Mere days remain until the new Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) officially opens for business on 1 October. The Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 creates the EPA, which will be a statutory office initially within the Ministry for the Environment.
The EPA will be a nationally-focussed body and is proposed to be better equipped to deal with projects of national significance, as part of the simplifying and streamlining theme of phase one of the RMA reforms. The EPA's role is to consider resource management projects lodged with it that are thought to be of "national significance", which can include applications for resource consent, notices of requirement (most infrastructure) or plan changes at regional (although not a regional coastal plan) and territorial level. It will examine projects and make recommendations to the relevant consent-granting Minister (either Environment or Conservation) within 20 working days of the matter being lodged. The EPA can recommend that the Minister should "call in" the matter or use other Ministerial powers, such as moving the project to a board of inquiry or to the Environment Court. If the EPA considers that the project is not one of "national significance", the matter will be referred to the relevant local authority decision-maker.
The Government has announced the detail to implement its election promise of investment in "ultra-fast" broadband. The Government will invest $1.5 billion in a fibre network that reaches 75% of New Zealanders within the next ten years. The investment will be undertaken by "Crown Fibre Holdings", which will operate as a new Crown-owned company (but not as a SOE).
Crown Fibre Holdings will form local fibre companies with partners that it will select to roll out fibre in each region. The Government has stated that it will only invest money in fibre companies that are not controlled by shareholders who also operate retail telecommunication businesses, such as Telecom.
More detail on the proposal can be found here.
The Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) is now open for business. The PGP was announced in this year's Budget as a scheme to invest Government money in primary sector growth and innovation, on a 50:50 basis with private investment. An investment advisory panel has now been established that will assess investment proposals against the already released criteria. The panel consists of Bill Falconer (Chair), John Brakenridge, Dr Kevin Marshall, Colin McKenzie, Joanna Perry and Jamie Tuuta.
John Key has initiated a formal review of the policies and procedures used by the Police and Child, Youth, and Family on the issue of smacking. The aim is to comfort parents that they will not be criminalised for lightly smacking their children following the 87% no vote in the recent referendum. The review will be conducted by Peter Hughes (Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development), Howard Broad (Commissioner of Police) and Nigel Latta (clinical psychologist and host of The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show). The team will report back on 1 December.
The High Court Rules Committee has released a consultation paper proposing reform to the law of discovery and the High Court Rules. Discovery is the disclosure to both sides of all relevant documents in civil litigation prior to the case being heard. It can be an exhaustive process that is both time and cost intensive. The law of discovery has already been amended in the District Court and in other jurisdictions, and now the High Court may follow.
With a 2002 Law Commission report in mind, the Rules Committee has mooted a number of potential changes that could be made including: limiting discovery to documents supporting or adversely affecting the case and having a much smaller initial discovery supplemented by more intensive particular discovery where needed (this option has also been presented in the form of draft rules).
The consultation paper may be found here. Submissions close on 20 November.
The Takeovers Panel has completed a review of the Takeovers Code relating to partial offers and identified a number of issues with the current system applicable to such offers, including:
- potential distortion in the scaling of acceptances where shares in the target company are held by a custodian/nominee;
- misstatements in draft offer documentation as to the specified percentage of shares sought by the offerer;
- problems with identifying persons eligible to vote on whether to approve an offerer making a partial offer which results in the offerer having voting control in the target company of 50% or less;
- problems with the dilution of current voting rights held or controlled by the offerer during the offer;
- problems with extension of offer time periods; and
- implications surrounding the offerer (or its associates) voting in favour of a partial offer resulting in the offerer having voting control in the target company of 50% or less.
A copy of the consultation paper can be found here. Submissions close 9 October.
Who |
What |
By when… (2009) |
Biosecurity New Zealand |
Draft import health standard for wood packaging material |
5 October |
Department of Building and Housing |
Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme: proposed minimum standards for steel structure, concrete structure and foundations licensing classes |
9 October |
Commerce Commission |
Draft decisions paper on price-quality paths for electricity distribution businesses |
12 October |
Department of Conservation |
Coastal protection awareness survey |
16 October |
Landing rights in Milford Sound |
16 October |
|
Silver Peaks Scenic Reserve uses survey |
30 October |
|
Kauri National Park proposal |
tbc |
|
Ministry of Consumer Affairs |
Review of the operation of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 |
16 November |
Electricity Commission |
Whanganui-Stratford transmission investment proposal |
6 October |
Minor editorial changes to the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 |
9 October |
|
Revision of the information system definition document |
16 October |
|
Proposed amendments to parts E and J of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 (and other consequential amendments) |
16 October |
|
Proposed availability and reliability index measures - interconnection asset services |
16 October |
|
Grid planning assumptions |
23 October |
|
Part D of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 |
9 November |
|
Dispatchable demand options |
16 November |
|
New Zealand Food Safety Authority |
Transport and wharf handling of animal products |
16 October |
Changes to the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2001 |
30 October |
|
Food Standards Australia New Zealand |
Food derived from herbicide-tolerant soybean line DP-356043-5 |
30 September |
Food derived from high oleic acid soybean line |
23 October |
|
Primary production and processing standard for eggs and egg products |
4 November |
|
Exclusive use of phytosterol esters in reduced fat cheese products |
4 November |
|
Ministry of Health |
Food and nutrition guidelines for healthy older people |
6 October |
High Court Rules Committee |
Reform of the law of discovery |
20 November |
Reform of the rules relating to written briefs |
20 November |
|
Inland Revenue Department |
Approved issuer levy, non-resident withholding tax and the bond market |
30 October |
Apportionment of the cost of bare land for the purposes of a change-in-use adjustment re GST |
30 October |
|
Ministry of Justice |
Electoral finance reform proposals |
30 October |
Department of Labour |
Revision of the Demolition Best Practice Guidelines |
9 October |
Revision of the Asbestos Best Practice Guidelines |
9 October |
|
Proposal to change the workplace exposure standard for airborne lead |
23 October |
|
Standards New Zealand |
Bicycle helmets |
27 October |
Radio equipment and systems |
3 November |
|
Specification for concrete production |
12 November |
|
Bunk beds and other elevated beds |
19 November |
|
Garments for general use |
20 November |
|
Takeovers Panel |
Partial offers consultation paper |
9 October |
Who |
What |
By when… (2009) |
Biosecurity New Zealand |
Draft import risk analysis for pig semen from Australia, the USA, Canada, the European Union and Norway |
7 October |
Draft import risk analysis for Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii / Sarcophilus laniarius) from Australia |
7 October |
|
Canterbury Mayoral Forum - Steering Group |
Canterbury Water Management Strategy |
2 October |
Commerce Commission |
Draft revised leniency policy on cartels |
30 September |
Department of Conservation |
Conservation status of lichen species and terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate species |
30 September |
Draft Guidelines for Aircraft Access for Canterbury Conservancy |
Ongoing |
|
Canterbury Conservation Management Strategy review |
Ongoing |
|
Ministry of Economic Development (and Ministry of Culture and |
Digital Futures: Planning for Digital Television and New Uses |
30 September |
Electricity Commission |
Interim pricing period |
5 October |
Ministry of Fisheries |
North Island West Coast Finfish plan |
16 October |
Māori commercial aquaculture settlement |
Not yet set |
|
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
Services and government procurement in the context of the Thailand - New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement |
30 September |
Inland Revenue Department |
Non-resident contractor schedular payments |
2 October |
Employee car parks - fringe benefit tax exemption |
2 October |
|
Ministry of Justice |
Improving the legal aid system |
9 October |
Law Commission |
"Alcohol In Our Lives" Issues Paper |
30 October |
National Infrastructure Unit (Treasury) |
Infrastructure: Facts and Issues - Towards the First National Infrastructure Plan |
5 October |
Standards New Zealand |
Interior lighting: safe movement |
1 October |
Risk management - principles and guidelines |
5 October |
|
Pharmacy services standard |
7 October |
|
Cots for household use - safety requirements |
2 November |
|
Air source heat pump water heaters |
3 November |
|
Takeovers Panel |
Rule 16(b) class exemption |
2 October |
Tertiary Education Commission |
Subsidy rates and regulations for ITOs, ITPs and PTEs |
30 September |
Ministry of Transport |
Safer Journeys – a road safety strategy to 2020 |
2 October |
This publication is included in Russell McVeagh's website : www.russellmcveagh.com
This publication is intended only to provide a summary of the subject covered. It does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. No person should act in reliance on any statement contained in this publication without first obtaining specific professional advice. If you require any advice or further information on the subject matter of this newsletter, please contact the partner/solicitor in the firm who normally advises you, or alternatively contact:
TIM CLARKE - Partner DOUG BAILEY - Consultant |
RUSSELL MCVEAGH VODAFONE ON THE QUAY
157 LAMBTON QUAY |