Introduced on July 27. Member’s bill in the name of Anahila Kanongata’a. The bill aims to protect judgment debtors from being subject to excessive attachment orders. It does this by amending the District Court Act 2016 to ensure that an attachment order on its own cannot lead to a deduction of more than 5 percent of the net earnings of a judgment debtor who is in receipt of a main benefit. Voted down at first reading with National, Act and NZ First opposed.

District Court (Protecting Judgment Debtors on Main Benefit) Amendment Bill

Members Bill in the name of Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki drawn from the ballot on June 18 2020. The bill amends the District Court Act to prohibit the seizure of goods of a judgment debtor with a disability, where the item proposed to be seized is necessary for the judgment debtor’s care, support, or independence. First reading on July 21 and sent to the Justice Committee with the support of all parties though National’s further support was reserved. Reported back on  April 21, 2021 with a number of amendments including the definition of disabled and around the seizure of items of related family members. Second reading on May 12, committee stage on June 9 and third reading on June 30 with all parties in support.

District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill

A Member’s Bill in the name of Jan Logie drawn from the ballot on Dec 1, 2016. The Bill seeks to enhance legal protections for victims of domestic violence. It places various duties of care on employers for employees who are victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence is defined as a hazard which employers must take all practical steps to stop exposure to. It creates a minimum entitlement to 10 days paid leave for domestic violence. First reading on March 8, 2017 with all parties in agreement, but with Labour and National expressing doubts about the details and impact on employers.  Report back delayed numerous times due to a lack of agreement and eventually reported back on May 10, 2018. MPs could not agree on amendments. National said existing flexible work arrangements were sufficient to meet the problems the Bill was trying to fix. They said small businesses would find the Bill challenging as the definition of domestic violence was broad and the new 10 days of annual domestic violence leave entitlements were significant. Labour supported the Bill but with many amendments including removing the definition of friends and families of victims also being victims for the purpose of accessing the bill’s entitlements and giving employers the right to ask for proof. The second reading was completed on June 14 with National and Act opposed. Labour and the Greens indicated they had agreed on amendments and NZ First said they would also be putting up amendments to assist employers in dealing with complaints if they decline a leave request.  NZ First also wanted the leave provision to be made tax-deductible for business, which they said could be considered by the Tax Working Group.Committee stage completed on June 27 with a number of amendments mostly prescribing a process around applying for the new leave provisions and an appeal process. National and ACT remained opposed. Completed third reading on July 25 with National still opposed.  Domestic Violence—Victims’ Protection Bill

Introduced on Dec 1, 2020. The Bill allows drug and substance checking services to operate legally in New Zealand. Passed through all stage under Urgency with National opposed. The law has a sunset clause with the govt intending to introduce a permanent regime next year. Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill

Introduced on May 11. The Bill permanently allows drug and substance checking services to operate legally. First reading on May 18 opposed by National. Referred to the health committee to be reported back by Oct 29. Reported back on Oct 28 with minor changes. Second reading  Nov 9 still opposed only by National. Committee stage completed Nov 11. Third reading Nov 23 2021. Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill (No 2)

Introduced on March 22. The Bill’s changes include; Increasing the cap limit on EQC residential building cover to $150,000 (plus GST), enabling EQC to accept claim notifications for up to two years after a natural disaster, rather than the current three-month time limit for such notifications and removing EQC insurance cover for contents. It is expected the changes and the increase to the cap limit for EQC residential building cover, will come into effect on 1 July 2019. The Govt indicated more changes were likely as a result of the upcoming inquiry into the EQC. Completed first reading on March 29 with all parties in agreement and sent to the Finance and Expenditure Committee. Reported back on Sept 28 with a small number of changes including to the time limits for claims. Second reading completed on Nov 8 with all parties in agreement.  Commitee stage completed on Dec 11. Third reading completed on Feb 12.  Earthquake Commission Amendment Bill

Introduced on Oct 15. The Bill enables the Education Minister to create a mandatory code for domestic students alongside the existing International Students Code of Practice 2016, and provides for code compliance to be monitored and enforced. First reading on Oct 17 with all parties in agreement and sent to the Education and Workforce Committee with a Dec 3 report back. Reported back on Nov 26 with technical amendments. Second reading Dec 10, Committee stage Dec 11 and third reading on Dec 12 with all parties in support. Education (Pastoral Care) Amendment Bill.

Introduced March 22. A member’s bill in the name of Erica Stanford. The bill amends the Education Act to abolish the decile system and replace it with a needs index.First reading debate interrupted on May 2 with indications it would be voted down. Voted down on May 16. Education (Social Investment Funding and Abolition of Decile System) Amendment Bill.

Introduced on February 8, 2017. The Bill increases the flexibility of funding of tertiary institutions including allowing for longer term funding. Further strengthens monitoring and compliance, seeks more consistent treatment of tertiary education providers (including allowing other institutions to be called universities and extends student protection arrangements. This includes extending Export Education Levy reimbursement provisions to cover private and partnership schools allowing international students to be reimbursed for their fees and continue to study in New Zealand should the private school they are studying at fail. First reading completed on May 11 with Labour, Greens and NZ First opposed and was referred to the Education and Science Committee. Reported back from select committee of Feb 16 with a large number of changes. All parties now support the Bill and it completed its committee stage on Feb 27. Third reading completed on March 27.

. Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill

Introduced on August 22, the bill amends the Education Act, and sets out objectives to guide the education system in the early childhood and schooling sectors. These objectives set of the Government’s priorities for these sectors through the statement of National Education and Learning Priorities. First reading debate completed on Sept 13 strongly opposed by Labour, Greens and NZ First. It was referred to the Education and Science Committee for consideration. Report back extended from March 13 to March 20 and reported back then with numerous amendments. Labour, Greens and NZ First all indicated their opposition to large parts of the Bill in minority reports. Completed second reading on April 11 and committee stage on April 12 with Labour, Greens and NZ First opposing. Completed third reading on May 11 with no parties changing their position. Education (Update) Amendment Bill