New Revised Edition of Parliamentary Practice in NZ

A revised edition of Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand has been published this week.

The publisher’s media release is copied below, and here is the news article on Parliament’s website: https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/features/fourth-edition-of-parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand-launched-at-parliament/

Clerk of the House of Representatives David Wilson (centre) and former Clerks Mary Harris and David McGee launch the fourth edition of Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand.

Source: Office of the Clerk

 

The guide to how New Zealand’s Parliament works is now updated. http://www.oratia.co.nz/product/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/

Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, David McGee’s monumental guide to the practice and procedure of the New Zealand House of Representatives, was last revised 12 years ago.

This new, fourth edition brings the work up to date, thanks to extensive revision by a team led by former Clerk of the House of Representatives Mary Harris and current Clerk, David Wilson, 

“I’m delighted to oversee the publication of this new edition, which reflects the knowledge and hard work of a large number of people,” commented Wilson. 

“Capturing changes in how Parliament works is vital because it helps the different people who interact with Parliament, allows us to provide the best advice possible, and points the way to how the institution will innovate and evolve in the future.”

In particular, the new edition reflects changes brought by the Parliamentary Privilege Act 2014, changes in committee conduct, and the use of extended sittings. 

Weighing in at 1.4 kg, the 896-page book features attractive design and enhanced indexing and references — and for the first time comes with a digital counterpart. The ebook version facilitates quick browsing and searching, and offers the ability to incorporate amendments at more regular intervals.

The authors:

David McGee was Clerk of the House of Representatives from 1985 to 2007.  Mary Harris occupied that position from 2007 to 2015, and David Wilson is the current Clerk of the House of Representatives.

First Revision Programme of Statutes Begins

Media Release

Christopher Finlayson, Attorney-General

9 December, 2014

The first revision programme of statutes has been presented to the House of Representatives, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. “This is a banner day for the New Zealand statute books,” said Mr Finlayson. “It is the start of a systematic programme of statute revision which will make the law clearer and more accessible for New Zealanders. There has not been a major revision and consolidation of our legislation since 1908.”
“The presentation of some of New Zealand’s older, much-amended statutes will be improved without changing the substantive effect of the law,” said Mr Finlayson. “Revision will reduce regulatory costs by assisting individuals and businesses to understand more easily the rules that apply to them and contribute to the Government’s priority of building a more competitive and productive economy.”
The Legislation Act 2012 requires the Government to consult on, and approve, a 3-year revision programme for each new Parliament.
The acts selected for inclusion in the first programme are contract and commercial statutes, many of which are expressed in language and a structure that is out of date. The acts contain rules underpinning transactions in a commercial context and also in dealings between individuals who are not in trade.
The statutes on the programme will be restated in the current drafting style and format using clear language, rearranged and renumbered.
After the Parliamentary Counsel Office has drafted each Bill, a panel of eminent lawyers will examine and certify them before introduction to ensure the revision powers have been appropriately applied.
The revision bill certifiers are retired High Court Judge Hon John Priestley CNZM QC; President of the Law Commission, Hon Sir Grant Hammond KNZM; Solicitor-General, Michael Heron QC and Chief Parliamentary Counsel David Noble.
The Parliamentary procedure for enacting revision bills will be streamlined under recent changes to the House’s Standing Orders, as these bills will have no new policy in them, but the select committee process is retained.
The first 3-year programme of statute revision is now available at http://www.pco.parliament.govt.nz/revision-programme

• Christopher Finlayson
• Attorney-General

Vulnerable Children Bill 150-1 (2013) introduced 3rd September.

The Explanatory Note reads:

This Bill is an omnibus Bill that is introduced under Standing Order 260(a) (dealing with an interrelated topic regarded as implementing a single broad policy). It will result in 2 new principal Acts: the Vulnerable Children Act and the Child Harm Prevention Orders Act. It also amends the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 (the CYPF Act) and the KiwiSaver Act 2006 (the KiwiSaver Act).

The Bill forms part of a series of measures to protect and improve the well-being of vulnerable children (children who are at significant risk of harm to their well-being now and into the future as a consequence of the environment in which they are being raised and, in some cases, due to their own complex needs). These reforms were proposed in the White Paper for Vulnerable Children (the White Paper) and the Children’s Action Plan released in October 2012. The changes will also support the Government’s Better Public Services programme in the key result area of reducing the number of assaults on children.

Read More

First statutes revision for 105 years planned

The Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO) says it will propose the first of a new three-yearly programme of statute law revision to the Attorney-General and relevant government agencies "in time for the next Parliament".

In its Statement of Intent for the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2018, the PCO says the Legislation Act 2012 - some of which is still to come into effect - requires the PCO to improve access to old, archaically expressed, and much amended laws through the establishment of a three-yearly programme of statute revision.

The last - and only - comprehensive revision of New Zealand's statute book took place in 1908.

The PCO says the draft revision programme will set out the proposed revision projects and those Bills expected to be enacted during that three-year period.

"The amount of revision undertaken will depend on the availability of funding to the PCO and administering departments," it says.

In other information provided in the Statement of Intent, the PCO says it intends to phase out the Statutory Regulations series and replace it by a Legislative Instruments series.

"This change will reflect terminological changes introduced by the [Legislation Act 2012], expecially the introduction of the terms 'disallowable instrument' and 'legislative instrument' in place of the current term 'regulations'," it says.

The PCO also says it is planning to make the New Zealand Legislation website an official source of legislation by 1 July 2014.

Valedictory Speech: Gilmore MP

If you're looking for an interesting and potentially amusing distraction this afternoon, One News will be live streaming Aaron Gilmore's valedictory speech from Parliament.

Constitutional Review

Hey all you Public Law-ians!
Have you heard the latest opinions on the Constitional Review? 

Radio NZ National are running  "a five-part series examining aspects of the New Zealand Constitutional Review being carried out by the Government." with moderator, Stephen Price.
You can catch the podcasts of the first 2 here.
Episode 1 had  Professor Claudia Geiringer; Professor Bruce Harris, Dr Carwyn Jones, Dame Claudia Orange, and Dr Matthew Palmer explore the background issues
Episode 2 , Dr Carwyn Jones, Dr Maria Bargh, Colin James, Professor Elizabeth McLeay and Sir Geoffrey Palmer consider the reform of our democratic institutions.

The next two are
Maori Aspirations for Constitutional Change, featuring Tai Ahu, Dr Rawinia Higgins, Veronica Tawhai, and Valmaine Toki; and Human Rights in the Constitution, featuring Sir Jim Bolger, Professor Janet McLean and Michael Mabbit

The role of the Regulations Review Committee

The New Zealand Parliament site has a new post on the role of the Regulations Review Committee. While you're there, browse their other posts, via the Features Archive (top left-hand corner, or via this link).