Business Statement

When the House resumes on Tuesday, 27 July, priority will be given to the Committee stage of the Appropriation (2010/11 Estimates) Bill, known as the estimates debate. Further in the week we would expect to make progress on the Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ruakawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Bill, which will have its first reading. The expectation is that other bills on the Order Paper will be dealt with.

I thank the Leader of the House for his update. I wonder whether there is any legislation resulting from the Government’s change of policy this week in respect of mining on schedule 4 lands. The Government announced that extra land would be included on schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, rather than being mined. Will that result in any amendments to that Act, which is legislation that I know the Minister of Energy and Resources is all over.

On the question of the latter, I would expect some amendments to that Act to be introduced later in the year. On the question of the former, work is proceeding.