The Education and Science Committee has examined the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill and recommends that it be passed with the amendments shown.

This is a private bill. We report that the statements in the preamble have been proved to our satisfaction.

Introduction

This bill would amend the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997, by incorporating the humanities into the objects and functions of the Society; changing the name of the Academy Council to the Academy Executive Committee; amending the standard for the election of Companions of the Society; and amending the election process for Councillors of the Society.

This commentary covers the major amendment we recommend.

Definition of humanities

We recommend that clause 5(2), which would add a definition of humanities to section 2 of the principal Act, be amended to omit specific mentions of English, and of American Studies. We consider that it is not necessary to specify English in addition to the more general “languages”, or to specify American Studies when “cultural studies” is also already included.

Appendix

Committee process

The Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill was referred to the committee on 22 September 2010. The closing date for submissions was 5 November 2010. We received and considered 13 submissions from interested groups and individuals. We heard six submissions.

We received advice from the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Committee membership

Allan Peachey (Chairperson)

Kelvin Davis (from 9 February 2011)

Catherine Delahunty

Jo Goodhew

Hon Darren Hughes (from 9 February 2011)

Colin King

Hon Trevor Mallard (to 9 February 2011)

Sue Moroney

Hon Heather Roy

David Shearer (to 9 February 2011)

Louise Upston

Key to symbols used

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Grant Robertson

Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill

Private Bill

210—2

Preamble
(1) The Royal Society of New Zealand is constituted under the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1965, and continued by the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997, for the purpose of advancing and promoting science and technology in New Zealand:
(2) The Royal Society of New Zealand wishes to—
- (a) incorporate the discipline of humanities into its object and functions; and
- (b) rename the Academy Council the Academy Executive Committee; and
- (c) amend the standard for the election of Companions of the Society; and
- (d) amend the election process for Councillors of the Society:
(3) The objects of this Act cannot be achieved without legislation:

The Parliament of New Zealand therefore enacts as follows:

1 Title

This Act is the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Act 2010.

2 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

3 Principal Act amended

This Act amends the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997.

4 Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to—
- (a) incorporate humanities into the object and functions of the Royal Society of New Zealand:
- (b) rename the Academy Council:
- (c) amend the standard for the election of Companions of the Society:
- (d) amend the election process for Councillors of the Society.

5 Interpretation

(1) Section 2 is amended by repealing the definitions of Academy bylaws and Academy Council and substituting the following definitions:

“Academy bylaws means the bylaws of the Academy Executive Committee made under section 39 and for the time being in force

“Academy Executive Committee means the Academy Executive Committee constituted under section 37”.

(2) Section 2 is amended by adding the following definition in its appropriate alphabetical order:

“humanities includes ~~English and other~~ languages, history, religion, philosophy, law, classics, linguistics, literature, cultural studies, media studies, art history, film, and drama~~, and American studies~~”.

6 New section 5 substituted

Section 5 is repealed and the following section substituted:
“5 Object

The object of the Society is the advancement and promotion in New Zealand of science, technology, and the humanities.”

7 New section 6 substituted

Section 6 is repealed and the following section substituted:
“6 Functions

For the purpose of the advancement and promotion in New Zealand of science, technology, and the humanities, the functions of the Society are—

“(a) to foster in the New Zealand community a culture that supports science, technology, and the humanities, including (without limitation)—

“(i) the promotion of public awareness, knowledge, and understanding of science, technology, and the humanities; and

“(ii) the advancement of science and technology education:

“(b) to encourage, promote, and recognise excellence in science, technology, and the humanities:

“(c) to provide infrastructure and other support for the professional needs and development of scientists, technologists, and humanities scholars:

“(d) to establish and administer for members a code of professional standards and ethics in science, technology, and the humanities:

“(e) to provide expert advice on important public issues to the Government and the community:

“(f) to do all other lawful things that the Council considers conducive to the advancement and promotion in New Zealand of science, technology, and the humanities.”

8 No dividend or profit to members

(1) Section 8(2)(d)(i) is amended by omitting “scientific or technological research” and substituting “research in science, technology, or the humanities”.

(2) Section 8(2)(d)(ii) is amended by omitting “science and technology” and substituting “science, technology, and the humanities”.

9 Fellows

(1) Section 10 is amended by omitting “Academy Council” in each place where it appears and substituting in each case “Academy Executive Committee”.

(2) Section 10(1) is amended by omitting “science or technology” and substituting “science, technology, or the humanities”.

10 Companions

Section 12(1) is repealed and the following subsection substituted:
- “(1) The Council may from time to time elect, as a Companion, any person who, in the opinion of the Council has—
  
  “(a) shown outstanding leadership in science, technology, or the humanities; or
  
  “(b) made eminent or sustained contributions to the promotion and advancement in New Zealand of science, technology, or the humanities.”

11 Honorary Members

Section 16(1) is amended by omitting “science or technology” and substituting “science, technology, or the humanities”.

12 Honorary Fellows

(1) Section 17 is amended by omitting “Academy Council” in each place where it appears and substituting in each case “Academy Executive Committee”.

(2) Section 17(1)(b) is amended by omitting “science or technology” and substituting “science, technology, or the humanities”.

13 Revocation of membership or fellowship

Section 18(2) is amended by omitting “Academy Council” and substituting “Academy Executive Committee”.

14 Elected Councillors

Section 22 is amended by repealing subsections (4) and (5) and substituting the following subsection:
- “(4) No person may hold office as an elected Councillor for more than 6 consecutive years.”

15 New section 23 substituted

Section 23 is repealed and the following section substituted:
“23 Appointed ~~Councillors~~ Councillor

“(1) The Regional Constituent Organisations are, between them, entitled to appoint 1 Councillor.

“(2) In determining who should be appointed under subsection (1), each Regional Constituent Organisation has 1 vote and the matter is determined by a majority of votes cast by postal ballot or, at the option of the Council, by ballot conducted by electronic means.

“(3) If there is an equality of votes between candidates under subsection (2) and the addition of 1 vote would entitle any of those candidates to be elected, the Chief Executive Officer of the Society appointed under clause 1 of the Schedule must determine by lot which candidate is to be ~~elected~~ appointed.

“(4) The ~~elected~~ appointed representative of the Regional Constituent Organisations is ~~elected~~ appointed for a term of 3 years.”

16 Co-opted Councillors

Section 24(2)(d) is amended by omitting “science and technology” and substituting “science, technology, and the humanities”.

17 Code of professional standards and ethics

Section 34(1) is amended by omitting “science and technology” and substituting “science, technology, and the humanities”.

18 Academy Council

(1) The heading above section 37 is amended by omitting “Council” and substituting “Executive Committee”.

(2) The heading to section 37 is amended by omitting “Council” and substituting “Executive Committee”.

(3) Section 37 is amended by omitting “Academy Council” in each place where it appears and substituting in each case “Academy Executive Committee”.

(4) Section 37(3)(a) is amended by omitting “science and technology” and substituting “in each of the areas of science, technology, and the humanities”.

19 Membership of Academy Council

(1) The heading to section 38 is amended by omitting “Council” and substituting “Executive Committee”.

(2) Section 38 is amended by omitting “Academy Council” in each place where it appears and substituting in each case “Academy Executive Committee”.

20 Bylaws of Academy Council

(1) The heading to section 39 is amended by omitting “Council” and substituting “Executive Committee”.

(2) Section 39 is amended by omitting “Academy Council” in each place where it appears and substituting in each case “Academy Executive Committee”.

(3) Section 39(2)(c) is amended by omitting “science or technology” and substituting “science, technology, or the humanities”.

21 Membership and staff

Section 42(2) is repealed.

22 New section 43 substituted

Section 43 is repealed and the following section substituted:
“43 Transitional provisions

“(1) Every person who, immediately before the commencement of the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Act 2010, is an elected Councillor under section 22 may hold office as an elected Councillor for a maximum of 6 consecutive years, starting from the most recent date that the person assumed office before the commencement of that Act.

“(2) Every person who, immediately before the commencement of the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Act 2010, is an appointed Councillor under section 23 is deemed to have been appointed for a term of 3 years.

“(3) The code of professional standards and ethics issued under section 34 that is in force immediately before the commencement of the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Act 2010 continues in force and applies to members of the Society as if references to science and technology were a reference to science, technology, and the humanities.”

23 Schedule amended

Clause 7 of the Schedule is amended by omitting “Academy Council” and substituting “Academy Executive Committee”.

Legislative history
14 September 2010	Introduction (Bill 210–1)
22 September 2010	First reading and referral to Education and Science Committee

Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill