Skip to main content.

Media releases from our ministers

  • 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.
  • NZ pushes for Global Alliance on agricultural emissions - 23 September 2009
    Prime Minister John Key says the New Zealand Government is pushing for a Global Alliance to research how to cut world-wide greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
  • Groser to New York for climate change meetings - 17 September 2009
    Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser leaves for New York today to attend a series of climate change meetings.
  • Revised ETS balances NZ’s environment and economy - 14 September 2009
    The Government, with Maori Party support, will revise the Emissions Trading Scheme to reduce the costs to households and the impact on jobs while ensuring New Zealand takes a responsible approach to the global problem of greenhouse gas pollution and climate change.
  • Streamlined resource management law passed - 9 September 2009
    The Government has passed changes to improve the Resource Management Act that will untangle unnecessary red tape for New Zealanders and enable essential infrastructure to be built in a more timely way.
  • Govt welcomes ETS Review Committee report - 31 August 2009
    Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith today welcomed the report of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee.
  • Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference - 25 August 2009
    Can I open by commending the organisers of this conference for your initiative in helping bring New Zealand and Australian thinking together on climate change and recognising the huge role for business in tackling this challenging issue.
  • Minister welcomes Resource Management Bill report-back - 18 August 2009
    Environment Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the report back to Parliament on the Resource Management Amendment Bill saying the recommendations will cut through costly red tape without compromising environmental protections.
  • Labour wrong on 2020 costs - 11 August 2009
    Labour's claims that the Government has exaggerated by tenfold the costs of a 10% to 20% emissions reduction target announced yesterday raises serious questions about the economic literacy of the Opposition.
  • 2020 target balances economy and environment - 10 August 2009
    Climate Change Ministers Nick Smith and Tim Groser today announced an emissions reduction target range of 10% to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020.
  • Bold 2020 target comes with high price - 4 August 2009
    Achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2020 would cost $17.5 billion, put power prices up by 30% and require the equivalent of seven Clyde Dams being built, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says.
  • Audit report step forward for Mapua - 31 July 2009
    The audit report on the remediation of the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site in Mapua has confirmed the land is now fit for residential, commercial and open space use – subject to certain conditions.
  • Public meeting details for Mapua report released - 29 July 2009
    Environment Minister Nick Smith today confirmed details of a public meeting to be held in Mapua on 31 July where residents will find out results of key reports into the state of a former contaminated site.
  • New reports help inform climate change policy - 26 July 2009
    New reports released today on the economic and forestry aspects of climate change policy will help inform Government decisions on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target and policy on emissions trading, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says.
  • Groser to attend APEC Trade Minister’s Meeting - 19 July 2009
    Trade Minister and Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser, departs today to attend the annual APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting in Singapore.
  • Minister announces public meeting for Mapua report release - 10 July 2009
    he Minister for the Environment, Dr Nick Smith, announced today that a public meeting will be held in Mapua near Nelson on 31 July so residents can find out the results of a key report into the state of the former contaminated Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site.
  • Govt consults public on 2020 emissions target - 6 July 2009
    The Government today began a process of public consultation on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target with a public meeting in Wellington tonight.
  • Government improves water quality monitoring - 1 July 2009
    “An important part of the Government’s strategy to address fresh water quality is improving the standard and frequency of monitoring”, Environment Minister Nick Smith said today in addressing Fish and Game New Zealand’s annual staff conference.
  • Public consultation for 2020 target announced - 26 June 2009
    The Government today announced it would be holding public meetings, meetings with business groups, and hui on New Zealand's 2020 greenhouse gas emissions target next month.
  • RMA shake-up needed to fix late consents - 11 June 2009
    Changes in law and practice are needed to address the record number of late resource consents, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith said today.
  • Air quality standards to be reviewed - 10 June 2009
    New Zealand's air quality standards need reviewing to ensure they are practical and achievable, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.
  • Agenda for Fresh Water Reform - 8 June 2009
    I have attended numerous EDS conferences in various roles but this is my first as Minister. I want to use this opportunity to set out the new Government’s ambitious environmental agenda and to make some specific announcements about a New Start for Fresh Water.
  • Fresh water reform process announced - 8 June 2009
    new process to improve New Zealand's fresh water management was today announced by Environment Minister Nick Smith and Agriculture Minister David Carter.
  • Green Ribbon Award winners announced - 4 June 2009
    Nine individuals, businesses and organisations ­from Kaitaia to Otago have been honoured for making an outstanding contribution to protecting the environment at the annual Green Ribbon Awards announced tonight.
  • Government delivers on environmental priorities - 28 May 2009
    The Government is increasing funding for its environmental priorities in 2009/10, Environment Minister Nick Smith says. “Feel good programmes that cost much and achieved little have been shelved. The Government has refocused the Ministry for the Environment to ensure it delivers tangible results in our priority areas of climate change, freshwater management, biodiversity, waste management and air quality.
  • Opening address to the New Zealand Climate Change Centre Conference - 20 May 2009
    Opening address to the New Zealand Climate Change Centre Conference in Wellington
  • The Next Phase of RMA Reform - 13 May 2009
    It’s great to be here addressing you as Environment Minister at a time of considerable reform in resource management and planning policy.
  • Groser to meet US Trade Representative in Washington - 11 May 2009
    Minister of Trade and Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser, will meet with members of the new US Administration including US Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, and the US Special Envoy for Climate Change, Todd Stern, when he travels to Washington from May 12-15.
  • Adapting the International Trade Regime to New Challenges: Climate Change - 11 May 2009
    First, I would like to pay tribute to the International Policy Council - I believe the IPC is the premier, policy-oriented think tank in the world on the relationship between agriculture and trade. I was honoured to be invited in 2005 to be a Member of the IPC, but of course had to resign when I became a Minister.
  • Work programme for Phase II of RMA reforms announced - 8 May 2009
    Greater central Government direction and closer alignment with other legislation are the key objectives of the Government's second phase of reform of the Resource Management Act, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.
  • Groser to Austria for International Policy Council - 8 May 2009
    Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser, leaves for Salzburg, Austria, tomorrow where he will deliver a keynote address on climate change, trade and agriculture to the International Food and Agriculture Trade Policy Council (IPC).
  • Australian officials to brief Select Committee - 7 May 2009
    Australian Government officials will brief the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee next Monday on the Australian Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith announced today.

See also:

For media inquiries please phone the media adviser on 04 439 7550.