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6 Management of the Ministry
Human resources
During the 2002/2003 financial year, the human resource focus was on the Transformation Project. The other key focus was a huge recruitment exercise - approximately 50 new staff came on board during this period.
Specific highlights were:
- staff survey - this confirmed that the Ministry was making good progress through the Transformation Project and provided a useful focal point for further improvements
- Leadership Programme - this was run by the Chief Executive for all staff, and was highly successful in presenting the key values and desired behaviours to staff
- introduction of new competencies in line with the new organisation
- introduction of new pay rates
- streamlining recruitment processes.
Communications
Communicating the work of the Ministry and building relationships with others is fundamental to our work. Partnerships with other government departments were a key feature for the Ministry in 2002-2003. We led whole of government work in oceans, climate change and genetic modification. We had a strong role in biodiversity, sustainable development and aquaculture work.
We worked closely with local government at various levels, from chief executives, to resource managers, environmental educators and with Local Government New Zealand. Progress on projects such as the New Zealand Waste Strategy, water management and environmental reporting initiatives showed this co-operation. With local government and business, we also developed an action plan to reduce the environmental impacts of dairy farming and a code of practice for the wood processing industry.
The successful Reduce Your Rubbish campaign (April-July 2003) was developed in partnership with regional councils. The campaign used a range of advertising tools to effectively communicate the objectives of the New Zealand Waste Strategy to a much wider public. Research showed that the campaign raised awareness of the waste issue, and encouraged many thousands of New Zealand householders to take simple, positive, actions to reduce their rubbish.
We also promoted environmental action through the Green Ribbon Awards, with a record level of participation and awareness.
Between 31 July 2002 and 30 June 2003 we held four stakeholder liaison meetings with NGOs, three with industry representatives and three with professional association representatives.
Public information
We revamped the Ministry's corporate website, www.mfe.govt.nz, to make it more focused and user-friendly, and to bring it in line with government web guidelines.
In August 2002 we published the last issue of our newsletter, Environment Update. We launched a new full colour newsletter, environz in November 2002 and published three issues. During the 2002-2003 year we also published our first Statement of Intent, as well as a wide range of reports, guidelines, discussion papers and brochures. Printed copies of publications can be obtained from the Community Relations team at the Ministry's Head Office and on the Ministry's corporate website.
Information management
The Ministry continued to build on the significant advances in information management it made during the previous year. In particular, the resourcing of the Information Management team - which centrally manages functions including information technology, web maintenance and development, library services, records management, mail services, ministerial liaison and e-government - was further increased. This increased resourcing enabled us to provide more effective information services for Ministry staff.
Due to the potentially significant implications of the Transformation Project on the Ministry's future information requirements, a number of key information-related initiatives planned for the year were postponed until after the transformation was completed and 'bedded-down'. Now that this is the case, initiatives such as the development of an information strategy and the revamp of the Ministry's intranet are now under way.
A number of major information initiatives were completed during 2002/2003, including:
- a 'whole of Ministry' contacts database was developed and implemented
- a new Ministerial Tracking System (recording all Ministerials, Official Information Act requests, Parliamentary Questions, Briefing Notes and Cabinet Papers) was developed and implemented.
Crown entity monitoring
The Environmental Risk Management Authority
During the 2002/2003 financial year the Ministry held monthly meetings with the executive of the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) to discuss emerging issues, potential risks and progress on matters of relevance to ERMA. Senior management of the Ministry also maintained regular contact with the Chief Executive of ERMA to ensure any key issues were addressed quickly and effectively. Additional meetings were held as and when required, both with the Chair of the Authority and with staff. The Ministry also received and reviewed quarterly reports from the Authority and, during this year, has overseen a major review of ERMA's capabilities known as the Nahkies Review.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
During the 2002/2003 financial year we continued to monitor the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). As with ERMA, we held monthly or bi-monthly liaison meetings with the executive of EECA to discuss emerging issues, potential risks and progress on matters of relevance to EECA. We also hold more regular informal meetings with senior EECA staff. The Chief Executive of the Ministry also maintains regular contact with the Chief Executive of EECA and holds additional meetings as and when required.
Effectiveness in reducing inequalities
During the 2002/2003 year, Maruwhenua, the Ministry's Māori Policy team, advised internally on how to address Treaty of Waitangi and Māori environmental issues by providing strategic advice, support and a focal point for engagements with tangata whenua. A Treaty strategy also guided our work to ensure that Māori issues are considered in all our work areas.
We continued to establish key contacts with iwi and hapu, build the profile of the Ministry and ensure that the Ministry was responsive to the tangata whenua and their priorities.
Our Māori staff were involved in several key areas of work, including aquaculture, biodiversity, water, oceans, resource management and local government processes. Work also continued on building the capacity of iwi to develop iwi planning documents and on developing Māori environmental performance indicators.
Of particular importance and significance has been the ongoing work with Ngati Tuwharetoa and other partners in addressing the water quality issues facing Lake Taupo.
Maruwhenua also contracted the Indigenous Development Group to deliver a series of 20 workshops on developing Tangata Whenua Management Plans based on the guide Te Raranga A Mahi. There has been significant positive feedback on these workshops and several iwi groups have arranged for further workshops based on this concept both with the support of Maruwhenua and independently. Maruwhenua is looking to build on the success of these workshops in the next financial year.
Improved iwi participation
During the financial year, we provided advice to both iwi and local government on how best to interact with each other through the Resource Management Act. We funded nationwide workshops focusing on the skills necessary to develop iwi management plans and documents, and were involved with other agencies, such as the Ministry and Foundation for Research, Science and Technology in promoting iwi access to research funding. Improving the effectiveness of Māori participation in the management and use of natural resources has been identified as a key issue for the Ministry in the coming financial year.
Continued Treaty of Waitangi settlements will also provide vital resources and capacity to iwi to enable them to participate effectively in the management of their natural resources but a more proactive approach has been identified as critical to achieving sustainable outcomes in this area.
Environmental performance indicators
We continued to develop Māori Environmental Performance Indicators, which are based around traditional indicators of environmental health used by the tangata whenua. These indicators will be an important tool for empowering Māori to exercise their kaitiakitanga and monitor environmental values and the health of their natural resources. Draft indicators have been developed for river/instream values and these are being trialed in varying catchments to test their adaptability. Work is also progressing on developing indicators for the marine environment, and kaimoana resources.
Management structure
During the Transformation Project, the management structure of the Ministry was changed to better reflect the Ministry's priorities.
The new structure, based on five main business groups, is intended to promote an approach focussed on relationships and partnerships.
See figure at its full size (including text description).Acts administered
- Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act 1941
- Environment Act 1986
- Resource Management Act 1991
- Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
- The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000
- Climate Change Response Act 2002
Property administration
The Ministry leases all its office accommodation. The locations are set out below.
| Location | Date lease commenced | Term of lease | Area leased (m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wellington |
|
|
|
| - Site 1 | August 1985 | 21 years | 2,610.42 |
| - Site 2 | October 2000 | 2 years | 969.50 |
| - Site 3 | November 2002 | 1 year | 1141.24 |
|
Auckland |
October 2000 |
2 years |
265.15 |
|
Christchurch |
June 2002 |
4 years |
369.79 |
Area occupied
Occupancy and m2 space allocation as at 30 June 2003.
| Location | Area leased (m2) | Number of occupants | M2 per occupant |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wellington |
|
||
| - Site 1 | 2,609.42 | 80 | 32.62 |
| - Site 2 | 969.50 | 32 | 30.30 |
| - Site 3 | 1141.24 | 51 | 22.38 |
|
Auckland |
265.15 |
5 |
53.03 |
|
Christchurch |
369.13 |
12 |
30.82 |
The Ministry for the Environment does not have any vacant space.
Cost of leases
Contractual operating expenses cover cleaning, power, security and rates when they are not paid by the lessor.
Property statistics
| Operational expenses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Rent office | Landlord | Contracts | Total |
|
Wellington |
|
|
|
|
| - Site 1 | 740,478 | 224,404 | 115,586 | 1,080,470 |
| - Site 2 | 158,370 | - | 20,742 | 184,348 |
| - Site 3 | 100,937 | 15,727 | 116,663 | |
|
Auckland |
51,373 |
- |
7,268 |
58,642 |
|
Christchurch |
51,771 |
20,580 |
20,874 |
93,225 |
|
Total |
1,108,164 |
244,984 |
180,198 |
1,533,347 |
| Analysis of data | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Rental ($ per m2) |
Rental ($ per occupant) |
Utility cost ($ per occupant) |
Total costs ($ per occupant) |
|
Wellington |
|
|
|
|
| - Site 1 | 284 | 9,256 | 283 | 13,506 |
| - Site 2 | 169 | 5,113 | 250 | 5,761 |
| - Site 3 | 88 | 1,979 | 93 | 2,287 |
|
Auckland |
194 |
10,275 |
727 |
11,728 |
|
Christchurch |
140 |
4,314 |
2543 |
7,769 |
Energy information
The Ministry's electrical usage over the past three years is as follows:
|
Year |
Location |
Units |
|---|---|---|
|
2000/2001 |
Wellington |
202,358 |
|
Regions |
64,137 |
|
|
2001/2002 |
Wellington |
206,590 |
|
Regions |
53,927 |
|
|
2002/2003 |
Wellington |
229,121 |
|
Regions |
75,659 |
