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The Year in Review
Priority Issues
Environmental sustainability
Towards a Sustainable New Zealand
Environmental sustainability is core work for the Ministry for the Environment. All the initiatives described in this annual report support sustainability, especially those dealing with air, land and water quality, waste management and climate change.
In addition, this year the Ministry responded to the Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament in February 2007 by working with other government agencies to develop six initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of households, business and the public sector. These are intended to engage New Zealanders in the Government’s goal of making New Zealand the first, truly sustainable nation.
The six new initiatives approved late in the financial year by Cabinet focus on household sustainability, business partnerships for sustainability, waste management and minimisation, towards a carbon neutral public service, enhanced sustainable procurement, and eco-verification. The implementation of the sustainability initiatives is jointly led by the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Development.
Towards the end of 2006/07 the main effort was on development of these initiatives and establishing cross-government processes to lead and coordinate the projects in preparation for delivery in 2007/08.
These six new initiatives sit alongside the Ministry’s existing work that promotes environmental sustainability, such as programmes on climate change, energy efficiency and water, and other activities across government.
Product sustainability information for consumers
‘Smarter Homes’, an online sustainable residential building manual, was launched on 21 June 2007. The website provides information for renters and home-owners on energy efficiency, water efficiency, selecting appliances and smart housing design. It was the result of two years of work by the Ministry for the Environment, in conjunction with the Department of Building and Housing, Beacon Pathway Ltd, Building Research, BRANZ, and the Consumers’ Institute.
Responsibility for the website has now been transferred to the Department of Building and Housing. The Ministry will continue to provide input into decisions about the website’s future.
‘Smarter Homes’ is the main online source of information about sustainability for households in the Department of Building and Housing’s national Energy Efficiency Consumer Awareness Programme. The website is also a key initiative under the Household Sustainability Programme.
Water efficiency labelling
The Ministry is developing a system of labelling to provide water efficiency and consumption information to consumers for a range of products, including taps and showerheads, toilets and urinals, and dishwashers and washing machines.
The aim of the scheme is to encourage consumers to buy more environmentally friendly products. It is an important aspect of our work to encourage household sustainability.
In the spirit of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement, New Zealand has opted to implement a similar scheme as in Australia (which has been in operation since July 2006).
A Consumer Information Standard under the Fair Trading Act 1986 has been proposed as the most suitable means of implementing labelling. During the year we consulted industry and the public on the proposed water efficiency labelling regulation. Progress was made on resolving New Zealand’s expectation that dual pressure technology (taps and showers) could be accounted for in the scheme.
Sustainable business
The Ministry supports and encourages sustainable industry initiatives and helps business to translate concepts into practical strategies and actions.
The sustainable tourism programme continues to grow, with six regions actively engaged with local tourism businesses to improve their sustainability. More than 180 businesses are now implementing eco-efficiency practices.
A collaborative sustainable business capabilities project was developed in conjunction with Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Tourism and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
The Ministry has continued to build on its relationship with the Sustainable Business Network to make information about sustainable business practices accessible to business.
Public sector sustainability
The Govt3 programme, which assists the government sector to operate more sustainably, now includes formal commitment from all 47 government departments. Twenty-six agencies now have formal action plans as part of their commitment to the programme.
A full baseline survey has been undertaken which captures environmental impact data for nearly all core public service agencies.
Climate change
Climate change policy
In April 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Fourth Assessment Report. The report concluded that it is “very likely” that most of the global warming since the mid-20th century is due to increased greenhouse gases from human activity. The costs of taking action on climate change are likely to be many times lower than the cost of inaction, according to the report.
The main climate change impacts for New Zealand, as noted by the IPCC, are expected to be on water resources, ecosystems, and coastal communities. Cabinet approved programmes to help New Zealand prepare for and adapt to climate variability, including engaging with the community on the importance of planning and preparation. The immediate focus of the adaptation work programme is on water and coastal, infrastructure investment and maintenance, primary industry, and biodiversity and biosecurity. The Ministry is the lead agency across government in preparing New Zealand to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change.
The Ministry, with the support of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, coordinates the climate change policy development across government. Climate change policy covers aspects such as New Zealand’s international engagement on climate change, the energy sector, sustainable land management, and transport.
In late 2006, five discussion documents were prepared across government outlining options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector and sustainable land management, as well as approaches to carbon pricing within the economy prior to and after 2012. More than 150 meetings, hui and workshops were held around the country as part of the public consultation process.
On the basis of this consultation, the Government decided to progress design options for an emission trading scheme covering all sectors of the economy and all greenhouse gases. In order to achieve this goal, an interdepartmental Emissions Trading Group was established. This group is led by the Ministry for the Environment and is based at the Treasury. The Emissions Trading Group has developed the policy that will put a price on carbon.
The climate change policy package will drive emissions reductions and contribute to New Zealand’s economic transformation and sustainability goals.
Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The Projects to Reduce Emissions programme continued through 2006/07. There are 41 project agreements for renewable energy projects, with 9.3 million emission units allocated to support their development. During 2006/07, five projects commenced abatement, one amendment request was approved, while nine were processed, and one project was terminated.
The Communities for Climate Protection programme encourages local authorities to implement greenhouse gas management and mitigation measures. Twenty-seven councils in New Zealand, representing 75 per cent of the country’s population, have joined the Communities for Climate Protection® campaign since it was launched in July 2004.
Greenhouse gas inventory
The development of New Zealand’s national greenhouse gas inventory system, including the land use and carbon analysis system, continued in 2006/07.
New Zealand submitted its initial report under the Kyoto Protocol on September 2006. This report documents our national system for accounting for greenhouse gas emissions and removals over the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The report was reviewed by an international team in February 2007. Once the report is agreed, it will be forwarded to the Compliance Committee of the Kyoto Protocol and New Zealand’s registry will be issued with our assigned amount.
New Zealand’s annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990–2005 was submitted to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The inventory was delayed until 4 May 2007 to allow time to implement some improvements identified in the initial review.
Greenhouse gas projections and net position report
Improvements were again made to New Zealand’s reporting on the projected balance of units during the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period (2008–2012). The United Kingdom firm AEA Technology was commissioned to do a high-level peer review of the ‘net position’ report. The review focuses on the progress of implementing recommendations made by AEA Technology in 2005 and providing suggestions for further improvements.
The draft net position report was prepared and updated to include the effect of Fonterra’s announcement of a higher milk solids payout to New Zealand dairy farmers. The draft report has been provided to the Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues.
Long-term projections of greenhouse gas emissions are currently under development to assist future policy development for climate change.
Land use and carbon analysis (carbon accounting)
The carbon accounting system is now known as the Land Use and Carbon Analysis System to reflect the wider benefits from this investment (eg, land-use mapping). This year there was a focus on project management methodology, documenting business requirements, and contracting the mapping and database development.
The programme to map land use at 1990 started in February 2007. The first two regions have been mapped, with the full programme scheduled for completion in September 2008. The contract to acquire satellite imagery of New Zealand for mapping land use at 2007/08 got under way. Approximately 50 per cent of New Zealand land area has been captured under the all-of-government purchase of SPOT 5 satellite imagery.
The carbon monitoring system in natural forests was completed and a data capture programme was initiated for planted forests. The field plots started in winter 2007. Field plot measurements will be supplemented by the use of LiDAR (light detection and ranging) for airborne remote sensing of tree heights where physical access is not possible.
The work programme is on track to meet a January 2009 target, which will enable thorough testing of the system prior to the first Kyoto report due in April 2010.
Climate change science
The climate change research and technology work programme was established in the 2005/06 financial year to identify gaps and prioritise climate change research and technology investment. This work programme aims to provide the knowledge and technology essential for New Zealand to respond to climate change. Recommendations from this work programme have been prepared for Cabinet consideration.
The Ministry also coordinates New Zealand’s participation in the activities of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. New Zealand relies on the IPCC to inform current thinking on climate change issues.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is at the heart of the Government’s climate change, sustainability, and energy agendas. Our work this year has been strongly focused at the strategic level – on development of the draft New Zealand Energy Strategy (led by the Ministry of Economic Development) and the draft replacement New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (led by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority [EECA]).
As usual, much of our work has been in providing policy and regulatory back-up for programmes being developed by EECA. Almost all of these programmes will be delivered as part of the replacement New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, due to be finalised in October 2007.
The new strategy will set the Government’s direction on energy efficiency and conservation and renewable energy for the next 20 years, and place clear expectations on a range of central and local government agencies, business, communities and households to deliver improvements in energy use over the next five years.
During the year, we also provided advice on a range of renewable energy (wind farms) consent applications and renewable fuels programmes (including wood pellet burners in schools and transport biofuel obligations and research). In addition, technical amendments to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000 are proposed to maintain its efficacy in providing for practical delivery of energy-related programmes.
Waste
Waste minimisation and management
The New Zealand Waste Strategy sets the direction for waste minimisation and management in New Zealand. During the year the Ministry carried out a review of progress against targets in the strategy. This showed that much of the groundwork for achieving the strategy’s goals and objectives is now in place. However, there was variable performance, from targets that were unachievable to those that had been achieved ahead of time.
The Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill, a member’s bill, having been drawn from the ballot, progressed through the Select Committee during 2006/07. The Ministry has acted as adviser to the Select Committee for the bill.
During the year, the Ministry partnered with regional councils and unitary authorities from eight regions to collect and dispose of 62 tonnes of unwanted and banned agrichemicals. These eight regions are now effectively clear of unwanted agrichemicals.
A steering committee to tackle the three major construction and demolition issues – rubble, plasterboard and treated timber – has progressed this priority waste stream. The investigation of product stewardship schemes for plasterboard and treated timber commenced during the year.
Introduction of the compost standards certification programme in 2006/07, to produce compost of a standard quality, has been a major achievement for the organic waste sector.
Product stewardship
Product stewardship is a tool with the potential to greatly improve how we deal with waste. It encourages producers, brand owners, importers and consumers to help manage the environmental effects of products throughout their life cycle.
Voluntary product stewardship schemes were actively pursued in five sectors (tyres, paint, mobile phones, whiteware and agrichemicals) and in-depth case studies have been undertaken to aid design of new schemes. Two new product stewardship schemes were launched (AgRecovery and Resene’s Paintwise) and a number of others progressed during the year.
Good progress has also been made with the IT and TV product stewardship working group, the two major cellular phone companies and the lighting industry.
The New Zealand Packaging Accord continues to be an effective framework for joint action to reduce waste through the packaging supply chain. During 2006/07 the Accord partners were involved in a strategic development exercise.
A highlight of the year was the launch in June 2007 of the ‘Make a Difference’ campaign, aiming to reduce the number of plastic bags being given out by supermarkets by 20 per cent. This was a joint initiative with two major supermarket chains, Foodstuffs NZ Ltd and Progressive Enterprises Ltd.
Reporting on waste
Surveys on landfill design and management, current and future funding of waste minimisation, and council recycling facilities were completed mid-2007.
The Ministry began work on a new approach to monitoring waste flows to landfills and cleanfills in order to deepen the scope of long-term waste monitoring. Further work on this has been put on hold until the provisions of the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill become clearer in relation to mandatory reporting of waste flows.
Fresh water
Decline in water quality in lowland, urban and agriculture-dominated catchments is a significant environmental issue for New Zealand. A long-term programme, the Sustainable Water Programme of Action, aims to improve the quality and efficient use of fresh water, improve management of the undesirable effects of land use on water quality, provide for growing demands on water resources, and encourage efficient water management. The programme will provide national direction under the Resource Management Act through a national policy statement and two national environmental standards.
Potential provisions for the proposed national policy statement on freshwater management were drafted by a cross-departmental working group. Officials are establishing a Māori engagement process, required under section 46 of the Resource Management Act, to be undertaken in advance of the public notification process.
The Ministry consulted the public on the proposed national environmental standard on water measuring devices, which was developed in conjunction with industry, local government and other stakeholder groups. The summary of submissions has been completed and a full cost-benefit assessment is under way. Cabinet approval of the final recommendations will be sought by the end of 2007. In consultation with regional councils, an implementation task force will be established for the effective implementation of this standard.
A discussion document on the national environmental standard on ecological flows and water levels was developed in conjunction with a working group which has environmental, industry, and central and local government representation. Public consultation will be undertaken once Cabinet approval has been received.
Water quality in Lake Taupo
A joint agreement, funding arrangements and associated documentation to establish the Lake Taupo Protection Trust were signed by the Minister for the Environment in February 2007. This puts in place a $81.5 million, 15-year programme to reduce nitrogen inputs into Lake Taupo. The Government’s financial contribution this year was $2.133 million (excluding GST).
Dairying and Clean Streams Accord
The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord was agreed in 2003 between Fonterra Co-operative Group, the Minister for the Environment, the Minister of Agriculture, and regional councils. The parties to the Accord agreed to work together to achieve clean, healthy water in dairying areas, including streams, rivers, lakes, groundwater and wetlands.
A long-term monitoring and reporting strategy to measure progress towards the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord targets was developed and disseminated to councils. It included a five-yearly audit of water quality by the Ministry. The Ministry funded four councils (Northland, Horizons, Marlborough and Tasman) to undertake catchment monitoring programmes, to assess the impact of the actions being undertaken by farmers implementing the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord on a catchment scale. Monitoring information provided by councils will be collated in August/September 2007 by the Ministry and will form the basis of the Baseline Monitoring Report.
Reporting on water quality
Five reports were commissioned early in 2006 to provide a snapshot of recent national trends in lake, river and groundwater quality and allocation. Three reports were published in December 2006, while two are due to be published in August 2007.
An assessment of the national network of river water quality monitoring sites has been completed. It will identify the opportunities and limitations of the network for national reporting. This work is a major milestone in the development of an appropriate monitoring framework for reporting freshwater quality nationally.
Work to encourage best practice and improve consistency in freshwater monitoring and reporting was also completed with the release of draft national groundwater sampling protocols, a user guide for the macro-invertebrate index, and draft best practice guidelines for statistical analysis of freshwater quality data.
The first national, bathing beach water quality report was produced in 2006, covering the years 2003/04 and 2004/05. In April 2007 data on the most recent bathing seasons (2005/06 and 2006/07) was collated and analysed. An updated report is due to be released in September 2007.
Flood risk management
The Ministry has been leading a two-year work programme to improve how New Zealand manages its flood risk and river control. The agreed work programme was completed by the end of June 2007 and a report has been prepared for Cabinet on the findings and recommendations from the review.
In addition, work commenced on developing a national policy statement on flood risk management, and we worked with local government in the development of a New Zealand Standard under the Standards Act 1988. Guidance on hazards planning, including flooding, was provided through the Quality Planning website.
Oceans policy
Exclusive Economic Zone
New Zealand has jurisdiction over a very large area of ocean and one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the world. New Zealand’s EEZ is rich in resources such as fisheries and minerals.
In late 2006, the Government agreed that oceans policy development will focus on fixing the most pressing marine problems in the short term, while over time taking a more coordinated and integrated approach to marine management. The Government has given priority to improving the regulatory regime for environmental impacts in the EEZ because there are gaps and inconsistencies in the regulation of this area.
During the year a discussion document was prepared, ready for public consultation to begin in August 2007. Next steps for other oceans policy issues will be considered at a later date in light of the wide range of marine projects occurring across government at present.
Aquaculture
The Ministry worked with other departments to implement the Aquaculture Amendment Act and to facilitate sustainable aquaculture. The Ministry contributed to the Government’s response to the aquaculture industry’s sector strategy that was released on 7 June 2007 and the implementation plan was reviewed to align it with that response. Good progress is being made on the five priority implementation projects and on providing guidance and liaison with councils and with industry.
A $2 million contestable fund was established to help councils with aquaculture planning over the next five years, with the first grants to regional councils (totalling $399,000) approved. A further $900,000 was appropriated for cross-government aquaculture implementation projects.
Proposed amendments to the legislation to deal with specific implementation issues have been prepared for Cabinet approval.
Land
Cleaning up contaminated land
The Ministry made good progress towards a comprehensive policy framework for managing contaminated land in New Zealand. Following public consultation on a discussion paper, a position paper has been prepared containing the Ministry’s confirmed work programme for contaminated land.
We also published guideline documents entitled Managing risks associated with former sheep dip sites and Classification and information management protocols.
The clean-up of New Zealand’s largest contaminated site, the former Fruitgrowers’ Chemical Company site at Mapua, near Nelson, is nearly completed. Over 8000m3 of contaminated soil has been treated, tested and replaced.
Funding was allocated from the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund to assist five regional councils in cleaning up eight other contaminated sites around New Zealand.
Air
National environmental standards for air quality
National environmental standards for air quality were introduced in 2004. The Ministry is assisting local government with implementation of the standards.
During the year we gazetted new airsheds for Auckland (11) and Waikato (20). We sought submissions on updating draft good practice guides on assessing discharges to air from industry and land transport. A report on the submissions is currently being drafted.
The Ministry undertook an independent performance review of woodburners. The first phase of the review focused on whether woodburners for sale are built to the specifications outlined in test reports. The report was published in June 2007. Phase 2 of the review involved purchasing 10 burners and testing their efficiency and emission limits against the national environmental standard. Phase 2 is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007.
Reporting on air quality
As part of the national air quality reporting programme, a review of the Ministry’s Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) sites was undertaken. The GEMS sites include air quality monitoring in two Auckland locations and one in Christchurch. The review enabled GEMS monitoring to be assessed for best value and relevance to the ambient air national environmental standards.
A reporting framework for the air quality standards in gazetted airsheds was published on the Ministry’s website in November 2006, using a 2005 pilot data set. This comprised all available summary data for monitored airsheds across New Zealand. The Ministry is working with regional councils and unitary authorities to address technical issues in monitoring fine particulates to promote national consistency.
Urban and infrastructure
Urban Design Protocol
The New Zealand Urban Design Protocol is a voluntary commitment to specific urban design initiatives by signatory organisations, which include central and local government, the property sector, design professionals, professional institutes and other groups. In the past year the number of Protocol signatories has increased by 18, bringing the total to 138.
The Ministry has developed and conducted an internet-based monitoring survey of all Protocol signatories to assess collective progress on action plan commitments. Newsletters, case studies and other resources were produced to assist signatory organisations and four workshops were held.
Sustainable urban development and planning
New Zealand is one of most urbanised societies in the world with over 85 per cent of the population living in cities and towns. New Zealand cities (especially Auckland) will increasingly influence the future direction and success of the country. For these reasons it is important that cities become more sustainable and efficient across all four well-beings (environmental, social, economic and cultural).
In response to these needs we have led and supported cross-government work in the following three areas:
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enhancing land-use transport integration
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assessing the efficacy of urban transformational mechanisms
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participating in the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy Review and the Auckland Sustainability Framework.
Government Urban and Economic Development Office
The Ministry participates in the Government Urban and Economic Development Office (GUEDO) in Auckland. The second year of our involvement has seen increasing collaboration between the agencies on key Auckland-based projects.
In 2006/07 Ministry staff participated in the Auckland Economic Transformation Agenda, cross-agency initiatives in Auckland and recycling/waste management/travel surveys. We provided expert advice on matters pertaining to sustainable business, urban form and development, aquaculture, Auckland governance, Rugby World Cup Leverage and Legacy, and the Auckland Transport Strategic Alignment Project.
Biodiversity
National guidance
A Statement of National Priorities for protecting rare and threatened native vegetation on private land was released in April 2007. The Statement replaces the previous work undertaken on developing a national policy statement under the Resource Management Act and provides guidance about biodiversity on private land.
Raising awareness and understanding of national priorities through visits to councils has been the initial focus of the guidance work programme. Feedback from councils about the type of guidance that would support and advance biodiversity work is being collated to inform the development of the ongoing guidance work programme.
Resource management
Improving implementation of the Resource Management Act
The Ministry’s work programme to improve implementation of the Resource Management Act includes the Making Good Decisions accreditation programme for decision makers, training, guidance materials and public information.
Two rounds of the Making Good Decisions programme were held during the year, bringing the total number of decision-makers accredited by the programme to 934. In mid-2006, 570 certificate holders attended regional workshops to update them on practice matters that have arisen since they were accredited.
A total of 33 training workshops on the Resource Management Act were delivered nationally to over 1100 participants. Topics included enforcement, monitoring and reporting, hearings administration, structure planning, and historic heritage. Work on the Resource Management Act practitioner training framework was completed.
To assist iwi and hapu with their resource management interests, the Ministry provided training workshops for Taranaki iwi, Ngāti Hine, Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, the Tauranga City tangata whenua collective, and Ngāti Kahungunu hapu.
The Quality Planning website continues to be a useful and relevant resource for planning practitioners, attracting up to 30,000 visits per month. During the year a new guidance note on earthworks was added to the website and six existing notes were updated.
In August 2006 a new package of Resource Management Act information targeted at small business and the public was launched. The package includes 13 booklets, an interactive CD-ROM, new webpages and a 0800 RMAINFO service. More than 79,000 publications and 12,000 CD-ROMs have been distributed. The information service has handled 673 email and phone enquiries since September 2006.
National direction
The Government provides national direction under the Resource Management Act through national policy statements and national environmental standards.
Work is under way on developing national policy statements for freshwater management and flood risk management. A proposed national policy statement for electricity transmission was publicly notified in May 2007 and submissions closed in late June. A Board of Inquiry was appointed to consider submissions, hold a hearing and make recommendations. In June 2007 the Ministry sought Cabinet agreement to begin the process of developing a national policy statement on renewable energy.
Cabinet approved a national environmental standard on the protection of human drinking-water sources. The regulation is being drafted, and will be introduced by the end of 2007. Two national environmental standards related to freshwater management are also being developed.
Submissions recently closed on a standard to address low-impact telecommunication facilities and radio-frequency fields. A proposed national environmental standard addressing electricity transmission has been approved by Cabinet to be released for public consultation. In addition, we are looking at the scope of proposed standards on contaminated land and septic tanks.
Review of local government performance
As directed by the Minister for the Environment, the Ministry carried out a review of local authority performance under the Resource Management Act. Eleven councils were reviewed to investigate reasons for the decline in their resource consent processing times identified in the biennial survey of council performance.
Through the targeted assistance programme the Ministry worked with Horowhenua, Whangarei, Whakatane, Timaru and Westland district councils on improving resource consent processing and work flow.
Input to Treaty of Waitangi issues
The Ministry provided advice to the Office of Treaty Settlements during 2006/07 on the resource management aspects of negotiations for settlement of historical claims of Waikato-Tainui over the Waikato River, of Te Arawa Kaihautu Executive Committee over Te Arawa lands, of Ngāti Manawa over lands and the management of the Rangitaiki River, of Ngāti Apa (North Island) and of Te Aupouri.
The Ministry finalised its environmental protocol with the Te Arawa Lakes Trust for the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement, and held a relationship meeting with Ngā Rauru on its plans for being active in Resource Management Act matters.
Hazardous substances and new organisms
Hazardous substances
Changes have been made to regulations under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 to increase the age for purchasing fireworks to 18 and reduce the number of days on which fireworks may be sold, to the four days before Guy Fawkes Day. The sale of sparklers has been restricted to larger assorted retail packs to prevent production of sparkler bombs.
Work has progressed on improving coordination in workplace safety and chemical management, including the development of infringement notices, compliance information for farmers about the HSNO Act, and amendments to the approved handler regulations regarding storage of petrol on farms.
Cabinet approved the Hazardous Substances Compliance and Enforcement Strategy in December 2006. Amendments to improve the operation of the HSNO Act are being progressed through the Omnibus Bill under the Quality Regulation Review. These include changes to the delegation powers of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, the notification of application provisions, and issuing of test certificates; extending the Authority’s power to revoke test certificates; and improving the alignment of offences under the HSNO Act with the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
New organisms
Work on clarifying the interface between the Biosecurity Act and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act is continuing. We aim to ensure the purpose of each Act is being achieved without unnecessary duplication, uncertainty, and barriers to the introduction of beneficial new species into New Zealand.
Bioethics Council
The Ministry provides support for the Bioethics Council, a ministerial advisory committee established to provide independent advice and promote public debate on biotechnology. The Council, in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology, undertook a project on the use of human embryos for research.
The Council’s role was a campaign conducted through newspapers, television, and radio and special-interest publications to raise public awareness of the cultural, ethical and spiritual issues involved in research on human embryos; and to provide the public with a basic understanding of the science. As well, the Council held a public seminar in Wellington attended by over 250 members of the public and an online dialogue where participants were able to discuss research on human embryos in a constructive manner.
The Bioethics Council made submissions on embryo research, the Human Tissue Bill, and Newborn Blood Spot Cards: consent, storage and use.
Environmental reporting
Environmental reporting and monitoring framework
Work continued on a national state of the environment reporting framework with a focus on:
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development and use of a core set of environmental indicators (distilled from the earlier environmental indicators programme)
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use of New Zealand’s unique environmental classification systems for land, water and the marine environment which help interpret and map environmental data
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expanding information-sharing agreements with regional councils, other agencies and sector groups.
In 2006/07 the Ministry published three reports on national trends in lake and river water quality and allocation, and a report on progress against targets of the New Zealand Waste Strategy. A reporting framework for air quality was trialled and analysis of the 2006 airshed monitoring is under way.
Environment New Zealand 2007
Later this year the Ministry will publish Environment New Zealand 2007, the second national-level, state of the environment report. The report will present a national picture of the state of and recent trends in New Zealand’s environment, using a core set of national environmental indicators and other supporting information.
Work on the report has been under way since October 2006. Chapters have been drafted and peer reviewed and are now undergoing data-checking and editing. The Ministry expects the report to be printed by the end of December 2007. Work is also well under way on a summary document and technical guide which will accompany Environment New Zealand 2007.
Coordination of New Zealand’s input on OECD review
A review of New Zealand’s environmental performance was undertaken by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) during 2005 and 2006. In July 2006 the Ministry for the Environment coordinated a cross-government consultation process, involving key central government agencies, to provide a response to the draft report.
In September 2006, a delegation led by Minister Benson-Pope attended the OECD Environmental Performance Review examination meeting in Brussels. New Zealand’s environmental performance was looked upon favourably by the other OECD member countries. The report’s 38 recommendations were finalised at the examination meeting, and the OECD’s report was released in Wellington on 4 April 2007.
International
Environment provisions in New Zealand trade agreements
The Ministry worked closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to prepare draft negotiating texts for environmental agreements as part of the negotiations for Free Trade Agreements with China, Australia-ASEAN, Gulf Cooperation Council, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. It is expected that Free Trade Agreements with China, ASEAN-Australia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council will be concluded in 2007/08.
The Ministry convened the first Meeting of the Parties to the Environment Agreement between New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei as part of the Trans Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement and actively promoted implementation activities with these countries and with Thailand (under the Environment Agreement as part of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement between New Zealand and Thailand).
The Ministry also engaged in dialogue with other OECD countries, including Canada, the European Union and the United States, to share experiences and ideas about approaches to negotiations for environment provisions in free trade agreements and strategies for implementing such provisions. Dialogues include a teleconference and video-conference with Environment Canada, meetings with the European Commission, attendance at meetings of the OECD Joint Working Party on Trade and Environment, and contributions to the OECD Workshop on Environment in Regional Trade Agreements, Tokyo, in June 2007.
International environmental agreements
A draft national implementation plan under the Stockholm Convention was released for public consultation in July 2006 and attracted 26 submissions. The final plan was approved by Cabinet and deposited with the Stockholm Convention Secretariat in December 2006.
The Ministry continued working with other agencies on a national strategy regarding the continued use of methyl bromide in New Zealand under the Montreal Protocol. We contributed to position papers and delegation briefs in relation to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
