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Other New Zealand agencies with environmental interests

We work in tandem with a number of other government agencies to achieve our work priorities and because what we do often has an impact on their work.

We often work in partnership with the following agencies, which have specific responsibilities for the environment.

The Department of Conservation manages or administers on behalf of all New Zealanders:

national parks and conservation parks (formerly called forest parks)
reserves and conservation areas
protected indigenous forests
protected inland waters and wild and scenic rivers
indigenous/native wildlife
non-commercial freshwater fisheries
historic places on conservation land
marine reserves and protecting marine mammals offshore islands set aside for conservation.

Other government departments with some responsibility for environmental management include:

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Ministry of Fisheries
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Ministry of Economic Development. See in particular their page on The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which includes environmental issues.
Ministry of Research, Science and Technology
Ministry of Transport.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is an independent officer of Parliament (not a government department). The Commissioner's job is to review and provide advice on environmental issues and the system of agencies and processes established by the Government to manage the environment.

The Environmental Risk Management Authority makes decisions about applications to introduce hazardous substances or new organisms (including genetically modified organisms) to New Zealand.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority encourages, promotes and supports the uptake of energy efficient initiatives and new renewable energy.

Local government is responsible for the day-to-day management of our environment under the Resource Management Act. Central government provides guidance through laws, regulations, national policies, standards, guidelines and education.

Local government is:

12 regional councils, which coordinate and set policy for resource management, water management, soil conservation, and transport.
4 unitary authorities which combine the functions of both regional and district councils.
70 district and city councils (territorial authorities) which deal with land development, water supply, waste disposal, draining stormwater, and community facilities such as parks and reserves.

Your council's contact details can be found on New Zealand Local Government Online.