The Constitutional Review Special Select Committee has completed its consultations on three proposed constitutional amendment bills.

Clerk of Parliament Tangata Vainerere, who accompanied the Committee as the principal adviser to the four northern group islands, confirmed that the committee was now compiling its report for Parliament.

The team returned from Penrhyn, Manihiki, Rakahanga and Pukapuka after holding public consultations on the Constitution Amendment Bills 30, 31, and 32.

The group was led by deputy chair Tina Browne and included MPs Toa Isamaela, Apii Kavana, Agnes Armstrong, Papaterai William (hansard editor), Unuia Unuia (IT technician) and Vainerere.

“The consultations on the Constitution Amendment Bills have successfully concluded in the Northern Group,” Vainerere said.

“The Committee is now putting together their report on that part of the matter and then finalise their full report for Parliament.

“The current mood in the Committee (and staff) at this point is to aim to have their final report available for tabling in the up-coming sitting on 21 May if possible.”

The Special Select Committee is reviewing and considering three Constitutional Amendment Bills that were presented to Parliament in December 2023.

The Constitution Amendment (No. 30) Bill proposes increasing the number of Cabinet Ministers and removing the ability to appoint a non-MP Minister. The Constitution Amendment (No. 32) Bill provides for the ability for MPs to hold a proxy vote for a fellow MP, and Amendment (No. 31) Bill will allow a new Parliament to commence its work after a general election without waiting for the outcome of any election petitions.