News and events
News from the Ministry
- National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities Users' Guide - 20 November 2009
This document provides a guide to implementing and explaining the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities) Regulations 2008 for practitioners in local government, the telecommunications industry and the public.
- Our Water: Groundwater quality - 18 November 2009
As part of its National Environmental Reporting Programme, the Ministry for the Environment regularly reports on water quality in groundwater aquifers. This information sheet presents the key findings from data collected from over 900 groundwater sites throughout New Zealand between 1995 and 2008.
- Urban Design Stocktake of Resource Management Plans and Policies - 11 November 2009
In 2008, the Ministry for the Environment engaged MWH New Zealand Ltd to investigate the nature and extent of urban design related provisions in local authority plans and policy statements prepared under the Resource Management Act. This report presents the detailed findings of that research. A summary of this report is also available.
- River water quality league tables - 21 October 2009
Sites in the National River Water Quality Network are ranked based on nutrients, water clarity, bacterial levels, macroinvertebrates and algae cover.
- New report on groundwater quality in NZ - 21 October 2009
This report provides an update of results for indicators of groundwater quality in New Zealand. It summarises average water quality at almost 1000 monitoring sites over the period 1995-2008, as well as trends at the same sites within that period of time.
News from the Beehive
- ETS agreement enables progress on climate change - 23 November 2009
The Government has secured the support of the Māori Party to enable New Zealand to implement an affordable and workable emissions trading scheme next year, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith says.
- Far North District Council review team announced - 20 November 2009
The investigation into Far North District Council's performance in processing applications for resource consents will start on Monday 23 November, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.
- Changes to ETS needed to reduce costs - 16 November 2009
Parliament needs to pass amendments to the existing Emissions Trading Scheme prior to Christmas to make it workable and affordable, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith says.
- Govt announces Environment Canterbury review team - 16 November 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide today announced the members of the review team that will investigate Environment Canterbury's poor performance.
- Govt welcomes report on ETS costs - 12 November 2009
A report on the amended Emissions Trading Scheme released today by the Sustainability Council shows the changes will more than half the costs for Kiwi households and businesses, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith says.
- Minister welcomes consultation on methyl bromide - 5 November 2009
Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today welcomed the decision by Environmental Risk Management Authority New Zealand (ERMA) to seek public submissions on its reassessment of fumigant methyl bromide.
- Govt announces review of Far North Council's consent processes - 28 October 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced a review of the Far North District Council's functions under the Resource Management Act.
- Wairau report confirms need for RMA reforms - 24 October 2009
Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today released a report on the processing of TrustPower's application to operate a hydro-scheme on the Wairau River.
- Environmental Protection Authority launched - 1 October 2009
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) that opens today marks a new era in managing New Zealand's natural resources with the Government taking a more active role and major resource consents being processed nationally.
- First reading, Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill - 24 September 2009
Mr Speaker, I move that the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill now be read a first time.
