Introduced on Nov 25. The bill partially repeals the regulations laying out the how the agency treats a “subsequent child” when parents or carers come to its attention. It also repeals a redundant information sharing provision and amends technical errors and ambiguities. First reading on Dec 14. Opposed only by National who argued parents who have harmed a child should be expected to prove that their subsequent child is safe and the changes would put the parents ahead of the subsequent child’s wellbeing. Referred to the social services and community committee. Report back on June 13 with a number of changes. Second reading on July 27 with all parties strongly opposed except for Labour. The major focus for opposition was changes to the oversight provisions and administration of complaints. Committee stage completed on Aug 11. Third reading completed on Aug 23 with no changes in parties positions.

Oranga Tamariki Amendment Bill

Introduced Feb 27, 2020. The Bill proposes a regime to regulate organic claims and the businesses that make them. First reading on March 19, supported by all parties and sent to the Primary Production Committee. Reported back on March 1, 2021. The committee recommend changing the title of the bill to “Organic Products and Production Bill”. The committee also expressed concern about the compliance costs in the regime and urged ministers to take care in the design and application of the regulations. Second reading completed on Oct 27 2022 with Act opposed. Remaining stages completed on March 30 with Act opposed.
 Organic Products Bill

Intended to bring NZ into line with international conventions. This includes requiring banks and other financial institutions to report all international wire transfers over $1000 and all physical cash transactions of $10,000 or more to the Financial Intelligence Unit within police. Given its first reading on November 4 and widely supported. Submissions closed on Feb 5 2015. The bill was reported back on May 4 with a number of amendments to the reporting regime for international transactions intended to make it less bureaucratic. Other amendments include allowing for bribes overseas to be punished by fines as well as imprisonment. It also makes clear money laundering in a foreign jurisdiction where it is not illegal is still an offence in NZ. Completed second reading on May 27 with all parties in favour though the Greens and others are pushing for bribes to cover low value “grease” payments which are currently excluded. Committee stage completed on October 21 with a Green amendment to make illegal small “facilitation” payments made in other countries by NZers voted down by National, ACT and United Future. The Government said it was happy with the “narrow” exceptions which were in line with Australian and United States law. Completed third reading divided into 15 bills on Nov 4 by 109 to 12 with NZ First opposed.  Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation Bill

Bill in the name of Labour Leader Andrew Little, introduced on May 26. It will require the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment to amend the Government Procurement Rules and Principles of Government Procurement to make job creation and the overall benefit to New Zealand a determining factor in their decision making. Voted down by National, ACT and United Future at first reading debate on November 30.  Our Work Our Future Bill

Introduced on Sept 19. The Bill establishes a regulatory regime to govern space launches, including both launch vehicles and payloads (eg, satellites), from New Zealand and by New Zealand nationals operating overseas. It also provides a legal framework for high-altitude activities that originate from New Zealand. First reading completed on October 18 with all parties in support though a few questions were asked around treaty obligations on the protection of intellectual property. All parties were enthused about the idea of a NZ based satellite launch industry. Sent to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee for consideration Reported back on April 21 with a number amendments mostly of a technical nature agreed to unanimously. Amongst these were tightening of ministerial regulation powers and more clarification about the ban on recording launch debris. Second reading debate interrupted on June 1 and completed on June 20 with all parties in support. Committee stage completed on June 22. Completed third reading on July 4 with all parties maintaining support. Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Bill

Member’s bill in the name of Damien Smith introduced on Aug 5. The Bill will exempt investors from countries within the OECD from the need to receive Overseas Investment Office approval to invest in NZ, except in for residential land. Voted down at first reading on Sept 21 with only National and Act in favour. Overseas Investment (Exempt Investment from OECD Countries) Amendment Bill

Introduced on May 31, the bill reverses the 2018 relatively permissive special forestry test in the Overseas Investment Act and applies the Act’s existing, but more stringent, benefit to NZ test to overseas investments that will result in converting land-use to production forestry. First reading on June 7  with all parties in favour and sent to the Finance and Expenditure Committee with an Aug 1 report back date. Reported back on Aug 1 with only minor and technical changes though MPs noted the concerns of submitters that the new definition and test would be overly complex and problematic saying this could be sorted out with proper administration. Second reading Aug 9, committee stage Aug 10 and third reading 11 with all parties in favour.

Overseas Investment (Forestry) Amendment Bill

Member’s bill in the name of Phil Goff (Labour). Narrows grounds for approving foreign purchases of rural land to investments that deliver benefits over and above what a New Zealand investor would produce and that creates substantial numbers of jobs and export increases. Introduced Dec 12 2013. First reading held on July 22 with the bill defeated by 61 to 60 with National, ACT and United Future opposed. Goff indicated in debate Labour now believed it had allowed too much land to be sold into foreign ownership and would tighten the regime if elected. Overseas Investment (Owning Our Own Rural Land) Amendment Bill

A bill in the name of Labour MP Phil Twyford introduced on Nov 12. The bill would mean non-residents would only be granted permission to purchase a residential property if they intend to live in NZ permanently or the purchase adds to existing housing stock. First reading debated interrupted on May 25 and completed on June 29 with National, ACT and United Future voting it down by 61 to 60. Overseas Investment (Protection of New Zealand Homebuyers) Amendment Bill

Introduced on May 14. The Bill amends the Overseas Investment Act by bring forwarding the introduction of the ministerial application of a national interest test for strategically important assets and the temporary application of protections to assets where their value may have fallen below thresholds due to recession. First reading on May 14 and referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee for a short consideration. Second reading, committee stage and third reading on May 26. Opposed by National and ACT who said it went to far and would lead to both a chilling effect and delays in investment.
Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Bill