Minimising environmental hazards

Rena response

The Ministry for the Environment has a key role in dealing with the environmental effects and clean up following the stranding of the cargo ship Rena on the Astrolabe reef off Tauranga in October 2011.

Information on response to Rena oil spill and how you can help

Hazardous substances

Hazardous substances: ‘Hazardous substance’ is the legal term for substances regulated by New Zealand’s Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act) which came into effect for hazardous substances on 2 July 2001.
Strategy: The Hazardous Substances Strategy outlines a series of legislative and other changes that will reduce the cost of complying with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 2001 (HSNO) without compromising public safety or the environment.
Hazardous properties: A substance is hazardous if it exceeds the threshold for one or more hazardous properties.
Pesticides and agrichemicals: Pesticides and agrichemicals are controlled as hazardous substances in New Zealand by the HSNO Act, the Ozone Layer Protection Act, and the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act for substances used in agriculture.
Hazardous facilities: The term ‘hazardous facility’ is not generally used to describe site-specific activities that involve using and storing hazardous substances. This section introduces a number of resources such as Land Use Planning for Hazardous Facilities and an assessment guide.
Contaminated land: The Ministry has developed a programme of work to address issues and gaps in how New Zealand manages contaminated land. It helps councils and practitioners assess and manage contaminants on land in a number of ways, including producing a range of contaminated land management and industry-specific guidelines, providing funding, and via the organochlorines programme.

New and genetically modified organisms

New and genetically modified organisms: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a subset of new organisms defined as plants, animals, insects or microorganisms foreign to New Zealand. Here you will find out about the legislation governing GMOs and the Environmental Risk Management Authority, the ongoing management of GMOs, the report by the Royal Commission into Genetic Modification, and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Ten things to know about genetic modification (GM): Find out here about how GM relates to organic and conventional agriculture, ‘“conditional release’ of new organisms into New Zealand, how GM is being used in research and education, what genetically modified foods are sold in this country and more.
About genetic modification: This section explains GM and provides information about GM regulation, research into impacts of GM and the global story of GM.
GM regulation: Here you can find out about New Zealand’s laws governing genetic modification including labelling requirements for GM food, liability if a genetically modified organism causes harm, GM and the Treaty of Waitangi, intellectual property rights and how to have your say.
Law changes: In 2003 the legislation governing new organisms (including genetically modified organisms) was changed. This section outlines these amendments including a new civil liability regime, streamlining decision-making for contained research into low-risk GM, cloning, Ministerial call-in powers, medicines and operational amendments.
Other work: This page summarises a range of initiatives around genetic modification following from the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. This includes research programmes, a review of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, information about genetically modified food, and GM and the Treaty of Waitangi.
Glossary: A glossary of commonly used terms relating to genetic modification and new organisms.
Links: A list of government, non-government, business, academic and general website links offering a wealth of useful factual information about genetic modification.

Ozone layer

Ozone layer: The ozone layer sits about 15–30 kilometres above the Earth and reduces the amount of dangerous ultraviolet light which reaches the Earth from the Sun.
Ozone-depleting substances: Information about some ozone-depleting substances such as methyl bromide and fluorocarbon refrigerants, New Zealand’s Strategy for Halon Management, and the importing of ozone-depleting substances.
Ozone damage and climate change: Global warming and ozone depletion are two distinct but inter-related issues.

Bioethics

Bioethics: Links to information about bioethics.

Last updated: 13 October 2011