New Zealand Parliament

The New Zealand Parliament is the legislative body of the New Zealand government.

Select Committees

Legislation is scrutinised by Select Committees. The Committees can call for submissions from the public, thereby meaning that there is a degree of public consultation before a parliamentary bill proceeds into law. The strengthening of the Committee system was in response to concerns that legislation was being forced through, without receiving due examination and revision. Each Select Committee has a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson. MPs may be members of more than one Select Committee. There are 18 Select Committees in the House of Representatives, as follows:

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• Business
• Commerce
• Education and Science
• Finance and Expenditure
• Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
• Health
• Justice and Electoral
• Law and Order
• Local Government and Environment
• Government Administration
• Maori Affairs
• Officers of Parliament
• Primary Production
• Privileges
• Regulations Review
• Social Services
• Standing Orders
• Transport and Industrial Relations

Occasionally a special Select Committee will be created on a temporary basis. An example was the Select Committee established to study the foreshore and seabed bill.

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