Covid-19 has dominated the headlines in New Zealand and around the world for the last 20 months. Meanwhile the business of government in New Zealand has continued unabated, with many pieces of legislation having been enacted either through the normal process or under urgency. A look at the list of Bills at the Select Committee stage reveals a long list of impending changes that New Zealanders may not know are about to happen.
New Zealand’s legislative process requires public consultation through Select Committee consideration of submissions. A look at the list of Bills currently in the Select Committee stage of legislation has revealed the following 31 Bills (as at time of publication). Of these only 10 are still open for public submissions.
| Name of Bill | Bill Number | Last Activity | Select Committee |
| Retail Payment System Bill | 80-1 | 26 October 2021 | |
| Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Bill | 83-1 | 26 October 2021 | Environment Committee |
| Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill | 78-1 | 21 October 2021 | Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee |
| Animal Welfare Amendment Bill | 67-1 | 21 October 2021 | Primary Production Committee |
| Protection of Journalists’ Sources Bill | 69-1 | 20 October 2021 | Justice Committee |
| Crimes (Child Exploitation Offences) Amendment Bill | 59-1 | 20 October 2021 | Justice Committee |
| Electricity Industry Amendment Bill | 63-1 | 06 October 2021 | Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee |
| COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill (No. 2) | 68-1 | 30 September 2021 | Health Committee |
| Civil Aviation Bill | 61-1 | 30 September 2021 | Transport and Infrastructure Committee |
| Te Pire mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki/Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Bill | 76-1 | 30 September 2021 | Maori Affairs Committee |
| Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021-22, GST, and Remedial Matters) Bill | 65-1 | 29 September 2021 | Finance and Expenditure Committee |
| Human Rights (Disability Assist Dogs Non-Discrimination) Amendment Bill | 28-1 | 29 September 2021 | Social Services and Community Committee |
| Local Government (Pecuniary Interests Register) Amendment Bill | 51-1 | 23 September 2021 | Governance and Administration Committee |
| Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill | 62-1 | 23 September 2021 | Transport and Infrastructure Committee |
| Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Hazardous Substances Assessments) Amendment Bill | 54-1 | 12 August 2021 | Environment Committee |
| Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill | 56-1 | 12 August 2021 | Justice Committee |
| Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Bill | 55-1 | 05 August 2021 | Regulations Review Committee |
| Maritime Powers Bill | 48-1 | 13 July 2021 | Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee |
| Crown Minerals (Decommissioning and Other Matters) Amendment Bill | 47-1 | 08 July 2021 | Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee |
| Ngāti Maru (Taranaki) Claims Settlement Bill | 36-1 | 08 July 2021 | Maori Affairs Committee |
| Holidays (Parent-Teacher Interview Leave) Amendment Bill | 13-1 | 07 July 2021 | Education and Workforce Committee |
| Biosecurity (Information for Incoming Passengers) Amendment Bill | 22-1 | 01 July 2021 | Primary Production Committee |
| Ngāti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill | 17-1 | 23 June 2021 | Maori Affairs Committee |
| Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Bill | 45-1 | 10 June 2021 | Transport and Infrastructure Committee |
| Plant Variety Rights Bill | 35-1 | 20 May 2021 | Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee |
| Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill (No. 2) | 34-1 | 19 May 2021 | Health Committee |
| Incorporated Societies Bill | 15-1 | 08 April 2021 | Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee |
| Lawyers and Conveyancers (Employed Lawyers Providing Free Legal Services) Amendment Bill | 311-1 | 25 March 2021 | Justice Committee |
| Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill | 310-1 | 18 March 2021 | Health Committee |
| Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Bill | 306-1 | 17 March 2021 | Finance and Expenditure Committee |
| Girl Guides Association (New Zealand Branch) Incorporation Amendment Bill | 5-1 | 17 March 2021 | Social Services and Community Committee |
Bills listed in the table that are bold and italicised are those still open for public submissions. The Retail Payment System Bill has not yet opened for submissions but has passed its First Reading.
Clicking through to any of the Bills will reveal details of each Bill under consideration. The period available for the public to make submissions varies considerably. For some of the Bills, such as the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, the timeline is tight with the deadline for submissions on 16 November 2021, a mere 21 days from the date of its First Reading. Yet other Bills in the past have been introduced and enacted (passing through the First Reading, Select Committee, Second and Third Readings and Royal Assent stages) in less than 2 weeks. One such example is the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines and Parts) Amendment Bill, which was introduced in Parliament on 1 April 2019 and received Royal Assent on 11 April 2019.
New Zealand’s legislative process requires public consultation and consideration of submissions. However that works only if the public is aware of the Bills being read, has the time and resources to properly consider them and make their submissions.
