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Review of the national environmental standards for air quality

On 10th June 2009, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced a review of Resource Management (National Standards Relating to Certain Air Pollutants, Dioxins and other Toxics) Regulations 2004 (the air quality standards).

The air quality standards, which were gazetted in 2004, set threshold concentrations for certain air pollutants with restrictions on industry after 2013 if the air quality standards aren’t met. The air quality standards are intended to help protect public health and the environment.

The review is to be supported by an independent technical advisory group comprising the following members:

  • Phil Barry – Chair (Financial & economics adviser and independent consultant)
  • Kevin Mahon (Director Air Policy, Auckland Regional Council)
  • Dr Deborah Read (Public health physician and independent consultant)
  • Lawrence Yule (Mayor, Hastings District Council)
  • Kevin Rolfe (Director, Kevin Rolfe & Associates and independent consultant)

The particular issues under review are whether the disallowing of industry consents is appropriate when industry contribute a small proportion of pollutants, whether the air quality standard has the right cost/benefit balance and whether the 2013 timeline is reliable.

The role of the technical advisory group is to make recommendations to the Minister within the terms of reference for the review. The terms of reference also contain an indicative timetable for the review. A report back on the review outcomes is scheduled for February 2010.

The technical advisory group will prepare an independent report to inform the Minister. To inform their report the technical advisory group will invite written submissions from the following stakeholders:

  • Industry
  • Local government
  • Public health units of district health boards
  • Central government agencies with portfolio responsibilities relating to air quality and public health.

Should the Minister choose to progress any of the technical advisory group recommendations a full public consultation process will be required. This public consultation will be conducted as per the national environmental standard development process under the Resource Management Act 1991.

For further information on the review of the air quality standards, please contact

Louise Wickham
Senior Analyst
Ministry for the Environment
on phone (04) 439 7475
or email louise.wickham@mfe.govt.nz

Biographical information on the members of the Technical Advisory Group

Phil Barry – Chair of the Technical Advisory Group

Mr Barry is a Director at Taylor Duignan Barry, an independent consultancy that provides corporate finance and economic advice.  Mr Barry holds an MBA from the University of Rochester, New York and a BA (Hons) 1st class in economics from the Victoria University of Wellington.  Mr Barry has previously worked for both the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Treasury.  Mr Barry held the post of Director for the Asset and Liability Management Branch at Treasury from 1996 and 1988.  Mr Barry is an economist with strengths in both negotiation and analytical skills and experience in water allocation issues, competition policy issues and national cost benefit analyses.  Mr Barry provides independent technical expertise for the group.

Lawrence Yule

Mr Yule is the president of Local Government New Zealand and has been Mayor of Hastings District Council since 2001. Mr Yule has particular interest in the air quality standards due to cost concerns with the proposed Hawkes Bay Regional Council proposed plan changes. Mr Yule brings a territorial authority perspective to the group.

Kevin Mahon

Mr Mahon is the Air Quality Policy Manager at the Auckland Regional Council with over 27 years experience in industrial air quality consents under the Clean Air Act 1972 and the Resource Management Act 1991. Mr Mahon holds a Masters of Science (in Physics) from the University of Waikato and is well versed in both the technical aspects as well as the practical implications of the regulations. Mr Mahon is further knowledgeable about transport issues that affect Auckland air quality.

Dr Deborah Read

Dr Deborah Read is a public health medicine consultant and is qualified in the area of public and environmental health and health risk assessment. Dr Read is currently a part time Medical Officer of Health for the Hutt Valley District Board and a public health medicine consultant. She was Deputy Chair of the Medical Council from 2002-8, and has been a member of the Environmental Risk Management Authority since 2006. Dr Read is also Chair of the Ministry of Health’s Organochlorines Technical Advisory Group and has just finished an appointment to the Board of Inquiry for the Upper North Island Grid Upgrade proposal. Dr Read provides public heath expertise to the group.

Kevin Rolfe

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Canterbury, a Masters of Applied Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Melbourne as well as multiple certificates in financial, management and economics areas. Kevin has first hand experience with the air quality standards as applied through his recent work as a Commissioner for a resource consent application in Nelson. Kevin has also previously worked in the public health arena with his appointment as an air quality management specialist to the World Health Organisation in Kuala Lumpur. Kevin provides significant air quality expertise to the group.

Last updated: 10 June 2009