Key developments in public law, regulation and government for the week ending 28 October 2016.

Public law

The Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand have released the first report under the Environmental Reporting Act, which was passed into law earlier this year. Our Marine Environment 2016 finds that New Zealand’s oceans, coasts, and marine wildlife are under growing pressure.

The Supreme Court has issued its judgment in Karl Leslie Raymond Marwood v Commissioner of Police. The judgment deals with the jurisdiction of the courts to exclude evidence obtained unlawfully and in breach of s 21 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The Court found that on the particular facts the breach was minor, and that jurisdiction to exclude the evidence did not exist.

Regulation

The Commerce Commission has given clearance to the Wallace Group Limited Partnership to acquire up to 100% of the assets and business of Wallace Corporation Limited, Farm Brands Limited (and related companies) and Keep It Clean Limited. The merging parties are involved in the rendering of animal waste materials into finished products, such as animal feed.

The Commerce Commission is consulting on its draft report into Fonterra's Milk Price Manual for the 2016/17 season. Submissions are due 15 November 2016.

The Electricity Authority is consulting on consulting on its 2017/18 levy-funded appropriations and strategic priorities. Submissions are due 6 December 2016.

The Electricity Commission's Wholesale Advisory Group is consulting on the extent to which the current instantaneous reserve event charge and cost allocation arrangements support the Authority’s statutory objective. Submissions are due 22 November 2016.

Government

The Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, Paul Goldsmith, has announced that Nathanael Starrenburg has been appointed as a new member of the Takeovers Panel for a five-year term. Mr Starrenburg replaces outgoing member Auckland lawyer David Flacks.

The Science and Innovation Minister, Steven Joyce, has announced that the New Zealand Research Institute of Viticulture and Oenology, based in Marlborough, has been selected to become the first new Regional Research Institute.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has appointed diplomat Lyndal Walker as New Zealand’s new Ambassador to the Netherlands, to be based in The Hague.

Finance Minister Bill English, together with Australian Treasurer, Scott Morrison, has launched an online portal aimed at giving a clearer picture of high-value infrastructure investments opportunities throughout Australasia - the Australia New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline.