Finance and Expenditure Committee

Select committee of the New Zealand Parliament

The Finance and Expenditure Committee (known as the Public Accounts Committee until 1962, and as the Public Expenditure Committee, from 1962) is a select committee of the House of Representatives, the unicameral chamber of the New Zealand Parliament, responsible for matters relating to the audit of the financial statements of the Government and departments, Government finance, revenue, and taxation. The committee is currently established by Standing Order 189.[1]

## History

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Following a reform of the former Public Accounts Committee in 1962, the Public Expenditure Committee was established and became the most influential parliamentary committee in New Zealand, establishing "a strong reputation for itself, principally because it enjoyed powers of investigation not granted to other committees and because it attracted able and ambitious members. It was the only committee able to set up its own inquiries (without reference from the House), had subcommittees chaired by opposition members, and enjoyed the support of staff from the Legislative department (now the Office of the Clerk) as well as the Audit Office."[2]

## Jurisdiction

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This committee looks at business related to economic and fiscal policy, taxation, revenue, banking and finance, superannuation, insurance, Government expenditure and financial performance, and public audit.

### Ministers answerable

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The wide scope of the committee's oversight means a number of government ministers are answerable to the committee. The table below lists them, and their position:

Minister  | Portfolio

|

Hon. Nicola Willis | Minister of Finance
Hon. Simon Watts | Minister of Revenue
Hon. Louise Upston | Minister of Social Development and Employment
Hon. Casey Costello | Minister for Seniors

## Membership

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### 54th Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 54th Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee[3][4]

Majority: Government (6/5)
Party  | Member  | Electorate  | Tenure
| National | Nancy Lu | List (30) | 20 December 2023 - Present[5]
| National | Cameron Brewer (Chairperson)  | Upper Harbour | 29 January 2025 - Present[6]
| National | Ryan Hamilton (Deputy chairperson)  | Hamilton East | 22 May 2024 - Present[7]
| National | Dan Bidois | Northcote | 29 January 2025 - Present[6]
| ACT | Todd Stephenson | List (4) | 13 December 2023 - Present
| NZ First | Jamie Arbuckle | List (6) | 13 December 2023 - Present
| Labour | Barbara Edmonds | Mana | 13 December 2023 - Present
| Labour | Deborah Russell | List (22) | 13 December 2023 - Present
| Labour | Megan Woods | Wigram | 27 March 2024 - Present[8]
| Green | Chlöe Swarbrick | Auckland Central | 13 December 2023 - Present
| Te Pāti Māori | Rawiri Waititi | Waiariki | 13 December 2023 - Present
Previous members
| National | Stuart Smith | Kaikōura | 13 December 2023 - 29 January 2025
| National | Catherine Wedd | Tukituki | 13 December 2023 - 29 January 2025
| National | David MacLeod | New Plymouth | 13 December 2023 - 22 May 2024
| Labour | Camilla Belich | List (26) | Unknown date - 27 March 2024
| National | Scott Simpson | Coromandel | 13 December 2023 - 20 December 2023

### 53rd Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee at the conclusion of the 53rd Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee

Majority: Government (7/4)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| Labour | David Clark (Deputy chairperson)  | Dunedin
| Labour | Ingrid Leary (Chairperson)  | Taieri
| Labour | Anna Lorck | Tukituki
| Labour | Dan Rosewarne | List (56)
| Labour | Phil Twyford | Te Atatū
| Labour | Helen White | List (48)
| Green | Chlöe Swarbrick | Auckland Central
| National | Andrew Bayly | Port Waikato
| National | Simon Watts | North Shore
| National | Nicola Willis | List (13)
| ACT | Damien Smith | List (10)

### 52nd Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 52nd Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee

Majority: Government (7/6)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| Labour | Kiri Allan | List (21)
| Labour | Tāmati Coffey | Waiariki
| Labour | Greg O'Connor | Ōhāriu
| Labour | Deborah Russell (Chairperson)  | New Lynn
| Labour | Jamie Strange | List (36)
| Labour | Duncan Webb | Christchurch Central
| NZ First | Fletcher Tabuteau (Deputy chairperson)  | List (4)
| National | Andrew Bayly | Hunua
| National | David Carter | List (3)
| National | Paul Goldsmith | List (18)
| National | Todd McClay | Rotorua
| National | Michael Woodhouse | List (10)
| ACT | David Seymour | Epsom

### 50th Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 50th Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee

Majority: Government (6/5)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| National | Maggie Barry | North Shore
| National | David Bennett | Hamilton East
| National | Paul Goldsmith (Deputy chairperson)  | List (30)
| National | John Hayes | Wairarapa
| National | Todd McClay (Chairperson)  | Rotorua
| National | Nick Smith | Nelson
| Labour | David Clark | Dunedin North
| Labour | Clayton Cosgrove | List (8)
| Labour | David Parker | List (4)
| NZ First | Winston Peters | List (1)
| Green | Russel Norman | List (2)

### 44th Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 44th Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee[9]

Majority: Government (4/3)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| National | Max Bradford | Tarawera
| National | Ian Revell | Birkenhead
| National | Ruth Richardson (Chairperson)  | Selwyn
| National | Tony Ryall | Eastern Bay of Plenty
| Labour | Michael Cullen | St Kilda
| Labour | Peter Dunne | Ohariu
| Labour | Elizabeth Tennet | Island Bay

Richardson resigned in July 1994 and was replaced by John Robertson as a member and Bradford as chairperson.

### 43rd Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 43rd Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee[10]

Majority: Government (4/3)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| National | Max Bradford | Tarawera
| National | Peter Gresham | Waitotara
| National | Murray McCully | East Coast Bays
| National | Gail McIntosh | Lyttelton
| Labour | David Caygill | St Albans
| Labour | Peter Dunne | Ohariu
| Labour | Elizabeth Tennet | Island Bay

### 42nd Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 42nd Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee[11]

Majority: Government (3/2)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| Labour | Clive Matthewson | Dunedin West
| Labour | Jim Sutton (Chairperson)  | Waitaki
| Labour | Elizabeth Tennet | Island Bay
| National | Doug Kidd | Marlborough
| National | Ruth Richardson | Selwyn

### 41st Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 41st Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee[12]

Majority: Government (7/5)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| Labour | Jim Anderton | Sydenham
| Labour | David Butcher | Hastings
| Labour | Peter Dunne | Ohariu
| Labour | Fred Gerbic | Onehunga
| Labour | Annette King | Horowhenua
| Labour | Peter Nielson (Chairperson)  | Miramar
| Labour | Fran Wilde | Wellington Central
| National | Warren Cooper | Otago
| National | Michael Cox | Manawatu
| National | John Falloon | Pahiatua
| National | Don McKinnon | Rodney
| National | Robert Muldoon | Tāmaki

### 40th Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 40th Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee[13]

Majority: Government (7/5)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| National | John Banks | Whangarei
| National | Philip Burdon | Fendalton
| National | Michael Cox | Manawatu
| National | Pat Hunt | Pakuranga
| National | Don McKinnon | Rodney
| National | Ian McLean (Chairperson)  | Tarawera
| National | Marilyn Waring | Waipa
| Labour | David Butcher | Hastings
| Labour | Ann Hercus | Lyttelton
| Labour | Peter Nielson | Miramar
| Labour | Stan Rodger | Dunedin North
| Labour | Bob Tizard | Otahuhu

### 39th Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 39th Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee[14]

Majority: Government (6/4)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| National | Michael Cox | Manawatu
| National | Dail Jones | Helensville
| National | Doug Kidd | Marlborough
| National | Don McKinnon | Rodney
| National | Ian McLean | Tarawera
| National | Marilyn Waring (Chairperson)  | Waipa
| Labour | Kerry Burke | West Coast
| Labour | Mick Connelly | Yaldhurst
| Labour | Roger Douglas | Manurewa
| Labour | Ann Hercus | Lyttelton

### 37th Parliament

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The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 37th Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee[15]

Majority: Government (6/4)
Party  | Member  | Electorate
| Labour | Roger Drayton | St Albans
| Labour | Jonathan Hunt | New Lynn
| Labour | Brian MacDonell | Dunedin Central
| Labour | Jack Ridley | Taupo
| Labour | Bill Rowling | Tasman
| Labour | Murray Smith | Whangarei
| National | George Gair | North Shore
| National | Frank Gill | East Coast Bays
| National | Peter Gordon | Clutha
| National | Robert Muldoon | Tāmaki

## See also

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* New Zealand House of Representatives committees

## References

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1. ^ "Standing Orders of the House of Representatives 2020, SO 189". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
2. ^ Elizabeth McLeay. "Parliamentary Committees in New Zealand: A House Continuously Reforming Itself?" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
3. ^ "Select Committee Reports - New Zealand Parliament". selectcommittees.parliament.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
4. ^ "Finance and Expenditure - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
5. ^ "Determinations of the Business Committee for Wednesday, 20 December 2023". Retrieved 25 April 2025.
6. ^ a b "Determinations of the Business Committee for Wednesday, 29 January 2025". Retrieved 25 April 2025.
7. ^ "Determinations of the Business Committee for Wednesday, 22 May 2024". Retrieved 25 April 2025.
8. ^ "Determinations of the Business Committee for Wednesday, 27 March 2024". Retrieved 25 April 2025.
9. ^ Parliamentary Debates. Vol. 539\. Wellington: A. R. Shearer, Government Printer. 1993. p. 23.
10. ^ Parliamentary Debates. Vol. 511\. Wellington: A. R. Shearer, Government Printer. 1990. p. 17.
11. ^ Who's Who in the New Zealand Parliament 1987. Wellington: Parliamentary Service. 1987. p. 17.
12. ^ Parliamentary Debates. Vol. 457\. Wellington: A. R. Shearer, Government Printer. 1984. p. 15.
13. ^ Parliamentary Debates. Vol. 443\. Wellington: A. R. Shearer, Government Printer. 1982. p. 72.
14. ^ Parliamentary Debates. Vol. 422\. Wellington: A. R. Shearer, Government Printer. 1979. p. 29.
15. ^ Parliamentary Debates. Vol. 382\. Wellington: A. R. Shearer, Government Printer. 1973. pp. 11–12.