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.

History 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."

Jurisdiction 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 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

54th Parliament The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 54th Parliament: New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee Majority: Government (6/5) Party Member Electorate Tenure Nancy LuList (30)20 December 2023 – Present Cameron Brewer (Chairperson)Upper Harbour29 January 2025 – Present Ryan Hamilton (Deputy chairperson)Hamilton East22 May 2024 – Present Dan BidoisNorthcote29 January 2025 – Present Todd StephensonList (4)13 December 2023 – Present Jamie ArbuckleList (6)13 December 2023 – Present Barbara EdmondsMana13 December 2023 – Present Deborah RussellList (22)13 December 2023 – Present Megan WoodsWigram27 March 2024 – Present Chlöe SwarbrickAuckland Central13 December 2023 – Present Rawiri WaititiWaiariki13 December 2023 – PresentPrevious members Stuart Smith Kaikōura13 December 2023 – 29 January 2025 Catherine WeddTukituki13 December 2023 – 29 January 2025 David MacLeodNew Plymouth13 December 2023 – 22 May 2024 Camilla Belich List (26)Unknown date – 27 March 2024 Scott SimpsonCoromandel13 December 2023 – 20 December 2023

53rd Parliament 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 David Clark (Deputy chairperson) Dunedin Ingrid Leary (Chairperson) Taieri Anna Lorck Tukituki Dan Rosewarne List (56) Phil Twyford Te Atatū Helen White List (48) Chlöe Swarbrick Auckland Central Andrew Bayly Port Waikato Simon Watts North Shore Nicola Willis List (13) Damien Smith List (10)

52nd Parliament 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 Kiri Allan List (21) Tāmati Coffey Waiariki Greg O'Connor Ōhāriu Deborah Russell (Chairperson) New Lynn Jamie Strange List (36) Duncan Webb Christchurch Central Fletcher Tabuteau (Deputy chairperson) List (4) Andrew Bayly Hunua David Carter List (3) Paul Goldsmith List (18) Todd McClay Rotorua Michael Woodhouse List (10) David Seymour

50th Parliament 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 Maggie Barry David Bennett Paul Goldsmith (Deputy chairperson) List (30) John Hayes Todd McClay (Chairperson) Rotorua Nick Smith David Clark Clayton Cosgrove List (8) David Parker List (4) Winston Peters List (1) Russel Norman List (2)

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

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee Majority: Government (4/3) Party Member Electorate Max Bradford Ian Revell Ruth Richardson (Chairperson) Tony Ryall Michael Cullen Peter Dunne Elizabeth Tennet

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

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

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee Majority: Government (4/3) Party Member Electorate Max Bradford Peter Gresham Murray McCully Gail McIntosh David Caygill Peter Dunne Elizabeth Tennet

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

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee Majority: Government (3/2) Party Member Electorate Clive Matthewson Jim Sutton (Chairperson) Elizabeth Tennet Doug Kidd Ruth Richardson

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

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee Majority: Government (7/5) Party Member Electorate Jim Anderton David Butcher Peter Dunne Fred Gerbic Annette King Peter Nielson (Chairperson) Fran Wilde Warren Cooper Michael Cox John Falloon Don McKinnon Robert Muldoon

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

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee Majority: Government (7/5) Party Member Electorate John Banks Philip Burdon Michael Cox Pat Hunt Don McKinnon Ian McLean (Chairperson) Marilyn Waring David Butcher Ann Hercus Peter Nielson Stan Rodger Bob Tizard

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

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee Majority: Government (6/4) Party Member Electorate Michael Cox Dail Jones Doug Kidd Don McKinnon Ian McLean Marilyn Waring (Chairperson) Kerry Burke Mick Connelly Roger Douglas Ann Hercus

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

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee Majority: Government (6/4) Party Member Electorate Roger Drayton Jonathan Hunt Brian MacDonell Jack Ridley Bill Rowling Murray Smith George Gair Frank Gill Peter Gordon Robert Muldoon

See also New Zealand House of Representatives committees

References