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Schedule of Responsibilities Delegated to Associate Ministers

As at 21 July 2009

PDF version (51 kb)

This paper is presented to the House, in accordance with the suggestion of the Standing Orders Committee in its Report on the Review of Standing Orders [I. 18A, December 1995].

At page 76 of its report, the Standing Orders Committee recorded its support for oral questions to be asked directly of Associate Ministers who have been formally delegated defined responsibilities by Ministers having primary responsibility for particular portfolios.

The Standing Orders Committee proposed that the Leader of the House should table in the House a schedule of such delegations at least annually.

The attached schedule has been prepared in the Cabinet Office for this purpose.


Hon Gerry Brownlee
Leader of the House

21 July 2009


Associate Ministers are appointed to provide portfolio Ministers with assistance in carrying out their portfolio responsibilities. The control of the portfolio always rests with the portfolio Minister. This schedule provides a summary list of the responsibilities that portfolio Ministers have delegated to Associate Ministers. In addition to these specific delegations, Ministers may involve Associate Ministers in other issues and general duties associated with the portfolio.


 

 

Portfolio: ACC

 

Associate Minister for ACC: Hon Pansy Wong

 

Role/Responsibilities

All matters relating to:

Ministerial correspondence related to the delegation;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

Contents

Portfolio: Climate Change Issues

 

Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues (International Negotiations): Hon Tim Groser

 

Role/Responsibilities

Representing New Zealand in international negotiations on climate change issues;

Ministerial correspondence related to the delegation;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

Contents

Portfolio: Commerce

 

Associate Minister of Commerce: Hon Rodney Hide

 

Role/Responsibilities

Oversight of the Commerce Commission and the ongoing operation of the Commerce Act 1986;

Assisting the Minister of Commerce in policy development work relating to the Commerce Act 1986 and the Commerce Commission, and in future appointments to the Commerce Commission.

Contents

Portfolio: Conservation

 

Associate Minister of Conservation: Hon Kate Wilkinson

 

Role/Responsibilities

All matters relating to the day-to-day management of the Department of Conservation, including the exercising of existing statutory authorities under the Conservation Act 1987 and related legislation and the Resource Management Act 1991, and all other legislation affecting the Department’s operations;

All matters related to the settlement of Treaty claims which fall within existing government policy;

Ministerial correspondence related to the delegation;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

Contents

Portfolio: Corrections

 

Associate Minister of Corrections: Hon Dr Pita Sharples

 

Role/Responsibilities

Leadership on a new crime prevention approach to address Maori over-representation in the criminal justice system;

Development of, in consultation with the Minister of Corrections, an holistic approach for offender management and processes to ensure effectiveness for Maori offenders;

Overall responsibility for the Maori Strategic Plan 2008/2013, including responsibility for the development and/or strengthening of strategies, policies, assessments and programmes relevant to that Plan;

Responsibility for work relating to:

Contents

Portfolio: Defence

 

Associate Minister of Defence: Hon Heather Roy

Role/Responsibilities

Leadership on and overall responsibility for policy and administration of issues relating to personnel, including:


Leadership on and overall responsibility for policy and administration of issues relating to infrastructure and support services, including:


Defence industry (domestic and export);

Oversight of the Air Combat Force disposal and Joint Command and Control System projects;

Ministerial correspondence related to the delegation;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

Contents

 

Portfolio: Disability Issues

 

Associate Minister for Disability Issues: Hon Pansy Wong

Role/Responsibilities

Responsibility for managing the government’s relationship with the disability sector, including:


Ministerial correspondence related to the delegation;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

Contents

Portfolio: Economic Development

 

Associate Minister for Economic Development: Hon Dr Wayne Mapp

Role/Responsibilities

Matters relating to business-science linkages, including the role of public research organisations in supporting economic development;

Maintaining an overview of Auckland’s innovative capabilities in relation to the above;

Ensuring that evaluations of the effectiveness and efficiency of programmes delivered through Vote Economic Development are an effective part of the policy process;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

 

Contents

Portfolio: Education

 

Associate Minister of Education: Hon Heather Roy

Role/Responsibilities

All matters relating to Special Education and the Independent School sector;

Ministerial correspondence in relation to Special Education and the Independent School sector;

Involvement with the development of policies in Secondary Schools, including trades in schools and youth guarantee;

Involvement with developing NCEA achievement standards for business and computer science;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

Contents

Associate Minister of Education: Hon Dr Pita Sharples

Role/Responsibilities

All matters relating to Kaupapa Maori Education, including Puna reo development (tribal dialects), Kohanga reo, Kura and governance and management training for Kura boards;

Ministerial correspondence in relation to Kaupapa Maori Education;

Involvement in work relating to the expansion and extension of Kotahitanga;

Involvement in work relating to Wananga;

Involvement with the development of transition education from school to further education, including implementation of the Youth Guarantee and Trades in Schools policy;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

Contents

 

Portfolio: Energy and Resources

 

Associate Minister of Energy and Resources: Hon Pansy Wong

Role/Responsibilities

Responsibility for the operation and effective investigation, compliance, enforcement and communication regime for gas and electrical safety;

Bioprospecting policy development;

Gas Industry Company Ltd matters, including policy development and implementation;

Attendance at international Ministerial energy-related meetings as and when required;

Ministerial correspondence related to the delegation;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

Contents

Portfolio: Finance

 

Associate Minister of Finance: Hon Simon Power

Role/Responsibilities

Responsibility for the exercise of the Minister of Finance’s functions and powers under the Overseas Investment Act 2005, except in respect of those matters where there may be a conflict with the State Owned Enterprises portfolio;

Responsibilities of the Minister of Finance in relation to proposals made as the Minister responsible for Vote Finance;

Responsibilities of the Minister of Finance to approve (jointly with the relevant Vote Minister or Minister responsible for an appropriation) expenditure or changes in appropriations and baselines in cases where the amount involved is less than $5 million in each financial year;

Assistance with work relating to expenditure control.

Contents

Associate Minister of Finance: Hon Steven Joyce

Role/Responsibilities

Day to day responsibilities, functions and powers of the Minister of Finance in his role as a shareholder in all SOEs, CRIs, and the following other entities in which the Minister has a shareholder (or equivalent) interest: TVNZ; Radio NZ; Public Trust; Venture Investment Fund; and Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand; excluding powers in relation to capital injections and approvals of financing, and any statutory powers relating to directors or boards;

Where a conflict arises in relation to Hon Simon Power’s responsibilities under the State Owned Enterprises portfolio, responsibilities, functions and powers of the Minister of Finance under the Overseas Investment Act 2005;

Assistance on work relating to expenditure control.

Contents

Portfolio: Foreign Affairs

 

Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs: Hon Tim Groser

Role/Responsibilities

General assistance in the portfolio.

Contents

Portfolio: Health

 

Associate Minister of Health: Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman

Role/Responsibilities

Functions and responsibilities relating to:

Assistance with primary health care policy and implementation.

Contents

Associate Minister of Health: Hon Tariana Turia

Role/Responsibilities

Functions and responsibilities relating to:

Contents

Associate Minister of Health: Hon Peter Dunne

Role/Responsibilities

Functions and responsibilities relating to:


Assistance with the public/private health sector interface.

Contents

Portfolio: Immigration

 

Associate Minister of Immigration: Hon Kate Wilkinson

Role/Responsibilities

Residence appeals referred by the Residence Review Board for consideration of approval as exceptions to government residence policy;

Requests for exceptions to government residence policy that have not been through the Residence Review Board process;

Requests for special directions;

Requests to reconsider temporary entry applications;

Requests for permits under section 35A from people who are not entitled to apply because they are in New Zealand unlawfully;

Reconsideration of cases after court action.

 

Contents

Portfolio: Infrastructure

 

Associate Minister for Infrastructure: Hon Steven Joyce

Role/Responsibilities

General assistance in the portfolio.

 

Contents

Portfolio: Justice

 

Associate Minister of Justice: Hon Nathan Guy

Role/Responsibilities

All matters relating to Justices of the Peace;

The implementation of real estate reform;

Tribunal reform;

Occupational reform within the Justice portfolio;

Statutes Amendment Bills;

Agreed aspects of international law;

Responses to recommendations of the Regulations Review Committee;

The Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993;

The Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Act 2004;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

 

Contents

Portfolio: Local Government

 

Associate Minister of Local Government: Hon John Carter

Role/Responsibilities

Responsibility for monitoring the costs that local government imposes on ratepayers and the compliance costs of central government regulation on local government;

Policy responsibility for local government portfolio matters relating to vehicles on beaches;

Facilitating an effective working relationship between the Local Government, Environment, and Building and Construction portfolios.

 

Contents

Portfolio: Maori Affairs

 

Associate Minister of Maori Affairs: Hon Georgina te Heuheu

Role/Responsibilities

Responsibility for Broadcasting matters within the portfolio, including matters relating to the Maori TV Services Act, Iwi Radio Licence Agreements, Te Mangai Paho, and the Maori Television Service;

Responsibility for work on enhancing Maori performance, business facilitation and advice;

Responsibility in relation to the Maori Land Court and Te Ture Whenua Maori Land Act

Ministerial correspondence related to the above matters;

Assisting the Minister of Maori Affairs on portfolio related matters relating to:

Contents

Portfolio: Rugby World Cup

Associate Minister for the Rugby World Cup: Hon Gerry Brownlee

Role/Responsibilities

General assistance in the portfolio.

 

Contents

Portfolio: Social Development and Employment

 

Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment: Hon Tariana Turia

Role/Responsibilities

Responsibility for Maori and Pacific employment issues in relation to the portfolio;

Responsibility for the government’s response to addressing, and reducing the impact of, Family Violence;

Responsibility for the New Zealand Carers’ Strategy;

Responsibility for community development programmes and associated funding administered by the Ministry of Social Development’s Family and Community Services group;

Assistance with:


Assisting the Minister for Social Development and Employment in leading the response to Youth Justice issues;

Ministerial correspondence related to the delegation;

Other initiatives as may be agreed from time to time.

Contents

Portfolio: Tertiary Education

 

Associate Minister for Tertiary Education: Hon Dr Wayne Mapp

Role/Responsibilities

All matters relating to research in the tertiary sector, including the Performance-Based Research Fund and Centres of Research Excellence;

Ministerial correspondence related to the delegation;

Involvement with policy development relating to the tertiary sector;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

 

Contents

Portfolio: Tourism

 

Associate Minister of Tourism: Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman

Role/Responsibilities

All matters relating to:


Ministerial correspondence relating to the delegation;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

 

Contents

Portfolio: Transport

 

Associate Minister of Transport: Hon Nathan Guy

Role/Responsibilities

Day to day oversight of:


Ministerial correspondence related to the delegation;

Other initiatives as agreed from time to time.

 

Contents

 

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