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The year in review

Priority issues

Transformation project and corporate management

With the agreement of our Minister, we made the review of the Ministry's work priorities and structure our primary focus in 2002/2003. It was clear that we had far too many activities and too few people to deliver on them all. So that we could deliver on the major expectations of our Ministers and the Government, we did a major prioritising exercise after consultation with a wide range of interested people and organisations. Inevitably, some important areas have had to be set aside while we make progress on fewer topics.

We have changed the structure of the organisation to focus our efforts on working with others to achieve nationwide environmental objectives. Where appropriate we will lead; where appropriate we will partner. We have increased the proportion of senior people who can be expected to operate at senior levels, and we have tried to 'model' our new image in the way we have run our appointments process.

As preparation and lead-up to the change, all staff were invited to attend half-day workshops where they had the opportunity to provide input into discussions on such issues as what changes were required and ongoing priorities for the Ministry. By encouraging staff input into the change process we were aiming to gain greater commitment to, and ownership of, the changes coming up.

The transformation process resulted in a large number of new vacancies at all levels of the organisation. The recruitment process was centralised in Human Resources to ensure an efficient, effective service to managers and to streamline the process. We have received very positive feedback.

Leadership development sessions for all staff, led by our Chief Executive, Barry Carbon, were held during April, May and June 2003. Staff attended five half-day sessions at two-week intervals. The aim was to focus staff thinking on leadership and influence. External speakers, including the Minister for the Environment, Hon Marian Hobbs, provided high-interest input.

We conducted a survey of staff in July with a 64% participation rate. Overall, results were good. Workshops are underway, facilitated by group leaders and Human Resources, to present results and get staff input into actions we should take to make the Ministry a better place to work and a more effective organisation.

A new remuneration system was introduced smoothly on 1 January 2003 and has the acceptance of staff.

We have also put a considerable effort into building relationships with other government agencies which have interests in common with us, and with regional councils. This includes meeting regularly with chief executives and establishing working groups that involve senior managers. New joint activities with these other agencies include implementation of the water, energy and sustainable cities programmes under the Sustainable Development Programme of Action, and development of national environmental standards.

Our first Statement of Intent, covering the period 2003-2006, was completed in April 2003. It notes that the Ministry was well advanced in a process of change but it was not yet possible to be very specific about what we would do over the next three years. Instead the Statement of Intent concentrates on the changes to be faced over the next year and 'cutting our cloth' to a deliverable and useful package.

Genetic modification

The Ministry co-ordinates the whole of government response to the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. A whole of government steering group meets every three to four weeks. This group has overseen the outputs of various departments in relation to genetic modification and acts as a forum for sharing information about domestic and international issues.

We developed eight major submissions for the Minister to take to Cabinet and we achieved sign-off from all portfolios. Other significant achievements this year include:

  • Establishment of the Bioethics Council: Toi te Taiao in December 2002.
  • The New Organisms and Other Matters Bill: This package of legislative changes was introduced to Parliament in April 2003 to enhance the regulation of genetically modified organisms.
  • 'Coexistence' decisions made by Ministers and announced in April 2003.
  • A Biotechnology Strategy for New Zealand, launched on 26 May 2003. The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology led this work.
  • Consultation on a proposal for a voluntary GM-free labelling scheme for food, concluded on 30 May 2003. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority will report to Cabinet in August 2003 on whether facilitation of the scheme can currently be resourced and whether it will result in the development of a labelling system.
  • A review by the Ministry of Research Science and Technology of research identified by the Royal Commission as needing further work. Research programmes funded through the 2002/03 Budget began in April 2003. This review will be completed by the end of August 2003.

See Output 1.2 on page 17 for more information.

Biodiversity

A National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity has been substantially drafted and preparatory work for appointing a Board of Inquiry was completed.

The Ministry has worked with the Department of Conservation to complete two funding rounds of the Biodiversity Condition and Advice Funds. Over 100 projects were approved, including individual projects of partnership arrangement, with funding of over $3.8 million funding (including multi-year projects).

The Ministry worked with other government agencies to put in place a Biotechnology Strategy for New Zealand, which was launched on 26 May 2003. The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology led this work.

See Output 1.3 on page 22 for more information.

Water, land and air

Among our recent products is an outstanding package of atlas, technical manual and CDs on a land environment classification system for New Zealand. We have shared with others the development of a groundbreaking initiative with Fonterra that will help to protect New Zealand streams from dairy farm effluent.

The Ministry also completed and published draft guidelines for the quality of freshwater that is used for recreation.

The Ministry's work includes working with local government to provide guidance on monitoring and managing the risks associated with bathing at beaches and with local communities to deal with concerns about lakes such as Taupo and Omapere.

See Output 1.2 on page 17 and Output 1.9 on page 33 for more information.

Wastes and hazards management

Our progress in implementing the New Zealand Waste Strategy includes a high-profile public campaign, Reduce Your Rubbish, run jointly with regional councils. Regional workshops were held throughout the country to disseminate information about the Waste Strategy. A review of waste management in most territorial local authority annual plans and annual reports showed that a majority had either adopted or were in the processing of adopting the Strategy.

The Ministry also produced three sets of guidelines - for managing cleanfills, safe application of biosolids and wastewater monitoring - during the 2002/2003 year, along with the 2002 Landfill Review and Audit 2002 report.

We continue to work with local government to improve the management of landfills, including providing guidance on managing cleanfills and on full price costing and charging for landfills. The first module of the Guidelines for the Management of Hazardous Waste is online and provides a consistent language for identifying and recording hazardous waste.

See Output 1.2 on page 17 for more information.

Sustainable development, energy and transport

We have completed our own first triple bottom line report, which will provide a template for public sector agencies, as well as publishing reports on pilot projects in the public sector.

We drove a useful package on resource management processes as part of the wood processing strategy, which will help when the 'wall of wood' hits in a few years. Projects related to business compliance costs are on track.

The Ministry had a major involvement in New Zealand's preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in South Africa in August/September 2002. This included involvement in international negotiations and in preparation of New Zealand's country report.

The Ministry played a major role in the development of the Sustainable Development Programme of Action and headline indicators of sustainable development. We were a major contributor to a report on Monitoring Progress Towards a Sustainable New Zealand, published by Statistics New Zealand in August 2002.

See Output 1.5 on page 26 for more information.

Climate change

The Climate Change Office was integrated into the Ministry for the Environment in late January 2003. A Director, management team, and additional staff were recruited. The work programme and the administrative systems for the Office have been integrated with the wider Ministry activities.

The greenhouse gas inventory report was submitted to the Secretariat of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by the due date of 15 April 2003. The National Inventory Report, as submitted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in April 2003, was prepared for publication.

See Output 1.6 on page 28 for more information.

Promoting environmental awareness and action

Awareness and education

The 2003 Green Ribbon Awards attracted a record number of entries and increased media coverage. A highly successful event was held at Parliament on World Environment Day with extensive coverage of the winners.

The Ministry's website - www.mfe.govt.nz - was given a new look and a wider range of content during the year. At the same time it was brought into line with government web guidelines.

We worked with the Auckland Regional Council on their Big Clean Up campaign to promote action on environmental issues in that region and built on this work with the Reduce Your Rubbish campaign in April-July 2003, which featured extensive consultation and co-operation with local government.

See Output 1.4 on page 25 for more information.

Funding community participation

Thirty-three applications to the Environmental Legal Assistance Fund were approved for funding totalling $516,687. Of the $1,000,000 available for this scheme, $775,685 was allocated to enable community groups to participate in environmental action through the legal system.

We also administer funding for projects and services under the Resource Management Act Education and Advisory Fund. This supports both legal advice for communities on resource management issues and activities to increase public understanding of the Act. Five applications were approved this year with funding of $297,000.

Supporting environmental initiatives

We administer and have improved accountabilities for the Sustainable Management Fund, Environmental Legal Assistance Fund and Environment Centre Grants. The Biodiversity fund was slowly getting underway but, with others, we have not only got it started but are already into second allocations.

The Sustainable Management Fund was established by the Government to support the community, industry, iwi and local government in a wide range of practical environmental initiatives. In the 2002/2003 year the fund administered a total of 110 projects (including 19 approved during the year out of 22 applications), with a total of $3,869,972 being allocated to environmental initiatives.

The Ministry also administers a fund to help establish new environment centres or to assist with the general costs of running one. During the year 12 out of 25 applications for environment centre funding were approved, with the $300,000 available being totally allocated. Two new centres were funded and a contribution to 10 existing centres was approved to assist with running costs.

See Output 2.1 on page 41 for more information.

The foundations of environmental management

Resource management

Proposed amendments to the Resource Management Act were repackaged into another Bill and passed by Parliament. The Minister has released for us two critical analyses of coping with delays in the Resource Management Act.

A background research report and a Cabinet paper outlining the proposed new Resource Management Act process for major projects have also been prepared.

See Output 1.1 on page 15 for more information.

Hazardous substances and new organisms

We have delivered proposals to the Government on making the administration of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act more workable. We have supported the Minister for Environment with a successful campaign on recovering halon fire extinguishers.

See Output 1.2 on page 17 for more information.

Reporting on the state of the environment

Good reliable information about our environment is essential to measure how well our laws and policies are working to protect New Zealand's clean green image. The website www.environment.govt.nz reports environmental performance indicators for a wide range of issues.

The Ministry published the Land Environments of New Zealand Technical Guide during the year.

See Output 1.8 on page 30 for more information.

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