Introduced on Dec 2. The 500 page Bill rewrites and updates the Education Act and related legislation. Parts of the law will be set into a new regulatory framework. Policy changes included a new licensing regime for early education centre, clarifications about the use of restraint and discipline in schools, as well as new rules for boards of trustees including incorporating Treaty obligations. First reading on Dec 5 with National and ACT opposed. National said it supported parts of the Bill, but had concerns about some areas including changes to the roles boards of trustees and in particular around zoning and enrolments. It also feared ECE changes would results in reduced services. Bill sent to the Education and Workforce Committee. Reported back on June 8 with a large number of changes and National still expressing misgivings. Second reading on June 24 with National and ACT opposed. Committee stage and third reading completed under Urgency on July 27 with National and ACT still opposed.Education and Training Bill

Introduced on April 7, a Member’s bill in the name of Labour’s Chris Hipkins. The purpose of the bill is to abolish partnership schools or kura hourua (“charter schools”). First reading interrupted on October 19 with the Govt and support parties indicating they would vote the Bill down. Voted down on November 9 with National, Maori Party, ACT and United Future opposed. Education Charter Schools (Abolition) Amendment Bill

Omnibus bill introduced on November 26. The bill changes  administrative and governance arrangements for educational entities and funding organisations across the education sector. Amongst the changes are  allowing schools to change their opening hours with the agreement of their community. The Bill will also allow licensed home-based early childhood education providers to offer out of school care to school-age children and  a principal to be employed to manage more than one school. Strongly opposed by Labour, Greens and NZ First at its first reading on December 8. Objections ranged from opposition to charter schools, concerns over flexibility and quality standards of  early childhood education provisions. Sent to the Education and Science Committee with submissions closing on February 19. The report back deadline was extended from June 8 to June 30 and was reported back on that date with a number of changes. Second reading completed on August 16 by 63 to 57 with National, Maori Party, ACT and United Future in support. Committee stage was interrupted Sept 14. Opposition MPs disagreed with large parts of the bill including allowing schools flexibility in deciding opening and closing hours of the school day and the charter school model. Committee stage completed on October 11 and third reading on October 20 by 63 to 55 with Labour, Greens and NZ First opposed. Education Legislation Bill

Bill drawn from the ballot on Feb 22 in the name of Chloe Swarbrick. will establish an Election Access Fund to be administered by the Electoral Commission and used by any disabled candidate to cover disability-related costs of standing in a general election, by not-for-profit bodies to cover costs of making election education events and materials accessible, and by registered political parties to support access needs of any members to allow them to participate within the party. Supported by all parties in its first reading on May 16. A number of National MPs expressed concern about funding being directed through political parties. The Bill was referred to the Governance and Administration Committee. Report back extended from Nov 16 to Feb 25, 2019. Report back extended again to June 24 and again extended to Oct 21. Reported back on Sept 24 with minor changes including the extension of  the provisions to by-elections and strengthening of provisions for a review of the impact of the law change. Second reading Dec 4, committee stage Dec 10 with all parties in support. Third reading completed on March 11 with all parties in support. Election Access Fund Bill

Introduced on Aug 31. A member’s bill in the name of Arena Williams which seeks to amend provisions in the Electoral Act to provide Māori electorates with the same entrenchment protections as general electorates. Voted down at first reading with National, Act and NZ First opposed.

Electoral (Equal Protection of Māori Seats) Amendment Bill

Members bill in the name of David Carter drawn from the ballot on July 2 2020. The bill reverses the changes made by the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act 2018, the so-called ‘waka jumping’ law. First reading on July 29. Opposed by Labour and NZ First, supported by National and the Greens to the anger of NZ First MPs. Sent to the Justice Committee. Reported back on April 20 with Labour indicating it will vote down the bill. Bill terminated July 29 2020.

Electoral (Integrity Repeal) Amendment Bill

Introduced on Dec 13, 2017. The Bill deems that an MP who has left their party is no longer and MP and allows a party leader to dismiss an MP if they are deemed to have left their party. First reading completed on Jan 30 and referred to the Justice Committee. National and ACT opposed the bill and the Greens came under some pressure for supporting it. They argued their concerns about similar legislation in the past had been reduced. This was due to the bill proposing a party would have to follow its rules before expelling an MP and the party leader requiring the support of two thirds of their caucus. Supporters of the bill said it was important to protect the proportionality of Parliament as decided by the election from “party hopping”. They said this overrode the power of an MP to defy their party. Reported back from the evenly divided Justice Committee with MPs unable to agree. Second reading completed on August 2. Committee stage began on August 7 with National filibustering and the Government using extended hours provisions to make slow progress. Bill set to pass with the Greens reluctant support. Eventually completed the committee stage on Sept 26 and third reading on Sept 27. National and ACT opposed with National saying it would repeal in government.Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill

Introduced on June 21. The bill would allow people to transfer between the Māori and general electoral rolls at nearly any time, and as many times as they wish. First reading on June 30 with National and Act opposed. Referred to the justice committee to be reported back by Nov 3. Reported back on Nov 1. National and Labour agreed to amendments which placed some limits, and the second reading was completed on Nov 8 with just Act opposed. Committee stage completed on Nov 15 and third reading on Nov 16 with no parties opposed.

Electoral (Māori Electoral Option) Legislation Bill

Member’s bill in the name of Rawiri Waititi introduced on June 9. It would allow Māori voters to switch between the Māori and non-Māori electoral rolls at any time. First reading on Nov 9 and voted down with only the Greens and Te Paati Māori in favour.

Electoral (Right to Switch Rolls Freely) Amendment Bill

Member’s bill in the name of Golriz Ghahraman introduced on May 19. The bill  proposes a raft of changes to electoral law. These include, extending the voting age to 16 years, removing the requirement for NZ citizens living overseas to have visited NZ within the last 3 years to maintain voting rights, giving all people in prison the right to vote and implementing the Electoral Commission’s 2012 MMP Review recommendations. Voted down at first reading on Sept 21 with just the Greens  and Te Paati Māori in favour.

Electoral (Strengthening Democracy) Amendment Bill