Hearings
[ Last Updated 17 February 2006 ]
Public Hearings will commence on 14 August 2000 and will continue, as required, until Wednesday, 30 August.
Timetable
Parties who made written submissions on the Draft Report should have indicated whether they wish to appear before the Panel at its public hearings. All relevant information should have been included in the written submissions lodged with the Inquiry.
The Hearings will be held in Wellington at the Wellington Airport Conference Centre. The Conference Centre is located in the airport terminal opposite the Ansett Golden Wing Club on the floor above the main concourse.
Hearings in Wellington are set down for the following days:
- 14-16 August; and
- 21-25 August
Daily sitting times will be:
| Morning: | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
| Afternoon: | 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm |
Wellington will be the main hearing location and it is anticipated that all telecommunications companies and organisations that wish to be heard will, where possible, make their presentations in Wellington. Private submitters and community groups may also make presentations in Wellington if they wish to do this.
However, to accommodate those that wish to be heard and cannot easily travel to Wellington, the Inquiry Panel will travel to Auckland and Christchurch.
The current travel programme is:
Hearings will be held in Auckland at Waipuna Lodge and will commence at 10:00 am on Monday, 28 August. The remaining hearing times will be posted on the web when the hearings timetable for Auckland has been confirmed.
As there are insufficient submitters in both Christchurch and Dunedin requesting to be heard to justify one day in each location, it has been decided to confine the hearings to one day in Christchurch.
Hearings will be held in Christchurch at Commodore Hotel and will commence at 10:00 am on Wednesday, 30 August. The remaining hearing times will be posted on the web when the hearings timetable for Auckland has been confirmed. The timetable will be available on the website on a week by week basis once those that have requested to be heard have confirmed their availability.
Hearings Purpose and Process
The public hearings of the Inquiry are for its purposes in considering information presented to it. Submitters should assume that written submissions previously presented to the Inquiry have been read by the Inquiry Panel. Therefore, submissions that have previously been provided should not be read.
Those appearing before the Inquiry Panel will have 15 minutes to outline the issues that they wish the Panel to consider. The Panel will then use this summary and any written submissions received as a basis for questions and/or discussion of the points that are made. Generally, hearings appearances will not exceed 45 minutes. Where additional information is required by the Panel, this will be requested and individuals will be asked to submit this to the Panel within a week of their appearance at the hearing.
The Inquiry will invite persons to attend, at stated times, to support, discuss or respond to matters raised in the submissions or by the Inquiry. There is no power to compel attendance, or to compel the production of any documents or other information.
All relevant information must be included in the written submissions lodged with the Inquiry. This will ensure that all matters are brought to the attention of all persons affected by the investigation, and that they have an opportunity to respond to this material. Such response may be in writing, or by requesting time at the public hearings, or both.
Presentation
Presentation to the Inquiry can be supported by overhead projector material. An overhead projector will be available. If a PowerPoint presentation is preferred, presenters must bring their own projector and computer.
Written Material
Where additional written material is provided for the Panel, six copies of the material should be handed to the secretariat prior to the presentation. This will cover three copies for the Panel and three working copies for the secretariat and for the record.
Appearance Timetabling
The programme will not provide exact times for a particular hearing "slot". As time required will vary (but generally not exceed 45 minutes) the timetable will show the session that a particular submitter will be heard in. Generally, the order in the programme will indicate the order in which the submitters will be heard.
Hearing Summaries
Summaries of the hearings will be recorded by the secretariat for the use of Panel members.
Those that wish can, of course, take notes for their own use.
Procedure at Hearings
Hearings of the Inquiry are conducted by the Inquiry under the delegated authority of the Minister. They will be open to the public, but entry is on condition that those attending conform to the Inquiry procedure. The Inquiry may hold all or any part of any hearing in private or with the attendance of nominated persons only. The Inquiry may sit in private with or without recognised journalists present. Any person present may be directed to leave, for stated reason, by the Inquiry.
Persons providing information at hearings will do so voluntarily. There are no special statutory provisions as to confidentiality, privilege or immunity. The general law on these matters applies and any person concerned as to their position should take their own advice.
The Inquiry may ask that information given orally also be provided in writing.
Persons particularly affected by the Terms of Reference who wish to be present throughout the public hearings may make reasonable arrangements with the secretariat for a position in the conference room and, where possible, a table and other suitable facilities will be provided.
The media may attend. Unless otherwise directed by the Inquiry, all matters may be reported without restriction. It will be the responsibility of the media to ensure that it holds consent of those appearing before the Inquiry to the use of their material. Subject to this, electronic media may tape the sound content and visual content occurring in the conference room. One television camera per television organisation will be permitted, to be operated from a single fixed position to be agreed in advance with the Inquiry. Any lighting or sound equipment must be so placed as not to obstruct or otherwise affect the work of the Inquiry.
While the Inquiry expects that all three members will be present during hearings, this is not a requirement of the Terms of Reference and particular aspects of the investigation may be conducted by one or two members of the Inquiry.
Confidential Material
Respondents should note that written comments provided to the Inquiry will be subject to the Official Information Act 1982. The Act requires the information to be made available unless:
- there is good reason, pursuant to the Act, to withhold the information; and
- that good reason outweighs the public interest in making the information available.
The grounds for withholding information are set out in the Official Information Act. If you object to the release of any material provided to the Inquiry, please specify the material that you wish withheld, and the grounds for withholding. Any representations made in this regard will be reviewed carefully in considering any request for release of the material. The decision on whether to release the material under the terms of the Act rests with the Inquiry. Any decision to withhold information is subject to appeal to the Ombudsman
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