Royters

Legislation this week - September 15-17 2009.

Parliament sometimes goes into Urgency to make progress on business additional to what would be possible under the normal rules for sitting hours and progress of business. Normally the House sits from 2pm-6:30pm and 7:30pm-10pm on Tuesday and wednesday, and 2pm-6pm on Thursday. Under Urgency this extends, with the House sitting from 9am-midnight on wednesday, and up to 10pm on Thursday. The House will go into Urgency this week to debate the following Bills:

Government Bills:
Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill - Second Reading
ACT to Support

Student Loan Scheme (Repayment Bonus) Amendment Bill - Second Reading
ACT to Support

Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Bill - Committee Stage
ACT to Support

Immigration Bill - Committee Stage
ACT to Support

Electricity (Continuance of Supply) Amendment Bill - Second Reading
ACT to Support

The 69th anniversary of the Battle of Britain was commemorated at the National War Memorial in Wellington today with a service and a wreath-laying ceremony. The event included a flypast by a Spitfire aircraft as the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) marked the anniversary and paid tribute to Battle of Britain veterans.

The Spitfire was the same aircraft that has been restored by Brendon Deere and which I wrote a blog piece about earlier this year. It was looking in great shape today as it flew over the War Memorial and I'm told it is the only flying aircraft of it's type in New Zealand.