Parliament – 4th December 2013
- Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the stability of his Government?
- KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on progress in lifting New Zealand’s export performance and reducing its reliance on borrowing from overseas lenders?
- HONE HARAWIRA to the Minister of Education: What responsibility does she accept for the New Zealand results as identified in the OECD’s PISA report released yesterday, which shows New Zealand’s test scores in maths, reading and science have all deteriorated under her watch, and that New Zealand’s education system has failed to keep pace with the educational achievements of other countries, also under her watch?
- Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister of Finance: Why has he revised the estimated proceeds from asset sales down to a minimum of $4.6 billion?
- SIMON O’CONNOR to the Minister of Science and Innovation:What steps is the Government taking to improve the understanding, skills and adoption of science and technology in New Zealand society?
- Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister of Health: What improvements in health services are shown in the latest health targets results?
- Hon PHIL HEATLEY to the Associate Minister of Social Development: How is the enhanced information sharing between the Ministry of Social Development and Inland Revenue delivering on the Government’s promise to crack down on welfare fraud?
- CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: Is she satisfied that the Government’s educational priorities are leading to an improvement in student achievement; if so, why?
- JACQUI DEAN to the Minister of Defence: How have recent New Zealand Defence Force exercises contributed toward the Government’s goal of developing a Joint Amphibious Task Force?
- Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister of Finance: Has he been advised whether the Prime Minister stands by his statement on asset sales that “mixed ownership will free up $5 billion to $7 billion”?
- Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Education: Is she satisfied with her own performance as Minister of Education; if not, why not?
- PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Housing: Does he stand by all his statements?
This bill is designed to correct irregularities in the setting and assessing of rates in the Kaipara District Council area between 2006/07 to 2011/12 as a result of the Kaipara District Council using a one-off targeted rate on residents to pay for the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme. In addition, this bill seeeks to vaildate the 2010/11 annual report, 2009-2019 & 2012-2022 long term plans in regards to the one off targeted rate to help fund the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme.
For more bankground to how this bill has become a major issue for the area, please feel free to visit this link
Kaipara rates revolt – Rodney Times
2) Tasman District Council (Validation and Recovery of Certain Rates) Bill – Hon Damien O’ Connor – Second Reading
This bill is designed to claifiy rating issues in the Tasman District during the years 2003-2004 and 2008-2009 in which they failed to apply section 23 of the Local Government Act 2002 correctly when setting rates in the region, especially in the areas of Tata Beach and Ligar Bay in Golden Bay who have challenged the Tasman District Council over stormwater charges billed to them during these years.
For some background reading to the bill and the reasons why it has been created feel free to read these stories from the Nelson Mail
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/7731601/Council-seeks-bill-to-fix-rating-mistake
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/7783535/Residents-meet-MP-over-new-bill
Members’ orders of the day – 7.30pm to 10pm
1) Electronic Transactions (Contract Formation) Amendment Bill – Paul Goldsmith – Second Reading
The primary purpose of this bill is to amend the Electronic Transactions Act 2002 to clarify when a contract is formed upon being accepted and communicated electronically between groups. This bill adapts an already accpeted rule found in common law from the Adams v Lindsell case which finds that a contract is accepted upon posting back a signed contract to a group, to include electronic communications of contracts.
2) Education (Breakfast and Lunch Programmes in Schools) Amendment Bill – Hone Harawira – First Reading
The purpose of this bill is to provide state funded Breakfast and Lunch programmes to all decile 1 and 2 schools in New Zealand by amending the Education Act 1989 to allow for state funding of this programme. This bill is orignally designed as a result of the Child Poverty Action Groups 2011 report entitled – Hunger for learning, which called for action to be taken in regards to poverty in New Zealand.