New Zealand House of Representatives committees

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Committees of the New Zealand House of Representatives are smaller groups that handle specific tasks for the House. They review draft laws (bills), carry out inquiries, listen to public input, and oversee the public service (and sometimes Parliament itself). Most committees have 5 to 12 MPs and are called select committees. There is also a Committee of the Whole House, where all MPs examine a bill in detail.

Since the 1960s, select committees have grown in power and take on more bills. From the 1970s they became more open to the public and the media, and by 1979 they handled almost all legislation. In 1985 New Zealand set up permanent subject-based committees to improve accountability and separate Parliament from government. Public meetings of select committees are now livestreamed online.

Each new Parliament appoints a set of select committees, and these usually stay mostly the same between Parliaments. For the 54th Parliament, committees are established by Standing Order 185. After a bill passes its first reading, it goes to a select committee for scrutiny. The member who handles the bill selects the committee, with the House agreeing; the referral is not a debatable motion. Committees typically have about six months to consider a bill, though this can vary. They can invite public submissions, suggest amendments, or split a bill into two or more bills. They may ask other committees for opinions. Their recommendations are reported to the House and voted on at the bill’s second reading. The version approved by the select committee is then reviewed by the Committee of the Whole House.

Select committees are sometimes called the “engine room” of Parliament. Most committees are chaired by MPs from the governing party and have government majorities, though there have been calls for more independence and greater opportunities for opposition chairs and majorities.

In 2023 the Standing Orders introduced two scrutiny weeks each year to review government and public sector spending. The first scrutiny week was held in June 2024.

There are two main kinds of select committees: permanent, subject-matter committees and additional specialized committees created for specific investigations, cross-cutting legislation, or particular reviews. The Business Committee helps decide the membership of the subject committees.

Each committee has 5 to 12 MPs. Party representation generally mirrors the House as a whole. Membership is decided by the Business Committee at the start of each Parliament, aiming to place MPs where their experience fits the committee’s work. Each committee has a chair and a deputy chair elected by the committee. MPs can sit on more than one committee. Cabinet ministers usually do not sit on committees, though some exceptions exist for certain specialist committees. Some non-Cabinet ministers sit on subject committees to ensure all seats are filled. The Business Committee’s membership is decided by the Speaker (who chairs) and party leaders.

After a bill’s second reading, the House forms the Committee of the Whole to debate the bill clause by clause, with the Deputy Speaker or Assistant Speakers presiding.