New Zealand House of Representatives committees

The functions of committees include scrutinising draft legislation (bills), conducting inquiries into subjects within their expertise, receiving public comment on matters before them, and overseeing the operation of the public service (including, for some committees, the operation of Parliament).

In addition, a committee of the whole House, comprising all members, conducts detailed scrutiny of draft legislation.

[2] The present system, with permanent committees for designated subject matters, was implemented in 1985, in order to promote accountability and a greater separation of Parliament from government.

[2] The strengthening of the committee system was in response to concerns that legislation was being forced through, without receiving due examination and revision.

There have been calls for increased independence of select committees from the likes of former Green MP Sue Kedgley in 2012 and ACT New Zealand leader David Seymour in 2021 by providing greater opportunities for opposition chairs and opposition majorities on committees.

Some ministers outside Cabinet are required to sit on subject committees to ensure that the governing parties can fill all their allocated places.

Membership of the Business Committee itself is determined by the Speaker (who chairs) and political party leaders.

The following table lists the select and specialist committees of the previous, and their respective chairs and membership breakdown.