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1. Overview

The Year in Review – the Highlights

The Ministry sees its primary focus as centred on the achievement of high standards of environmental quality. This requires reducing pressures on the environment and promoting changes in practices that will result in environmental improvement. Our approach to our work recognises that environmental quality is closely connected to economic, social and cultural well-being. High environmental standards must be achieved in ways and over timeframes that allow the relevant sectors to adapt.

This section of the Ministry for the Environment’s annual report outlines some of the highlights of our work programme for the 2007/08 financial year.

New Zealand’s air, water, land and built communities are healthy.

Environment New Zealand 2007

A key role of the Ministry for the Environment is providing information to the Government and the public about the trends in environmental quality and the pressures on our air, atmosphere, land, fresh waters, biodiversity and oceans.

Our reporting identifies nationally significant changes in the New Zealand environment, illustrates how rapidly these changes are occurring, and provides an assessment as to how widespread these changes are across the country. This information is important for people in central and local government, businesses, iwi, and communities who make decisions about natural resource use and management.

To report on the state of New Zealand’s environment, we work with other government departments, local authorities, Crown Research Institutes, and other agencies which are responsible for monitoring the environment or collecting relevant national-scale data.

In January 2008, the Ministry launched New Zealand’s second state of the environment report, Environment New Zealand 2007. Using a set of national environmental indicators, the report showed the aspects of the environment that are under pressure. It set a baseline against which future national reporting can assess changes. In the six months after Environment New Zealand 2007 was launched, 3500 copies of the full report and 5300 copies of the summary were distributed, and there were 213,000 hits on report web pages.

Sustainable Water Programme of Action

A priority environmental issue for New Zealand is to ensure that the quality of fresh water is maintained and improved and that it is distributed to ensure the highest environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits.

The Sustainable Water Programme of Action has been working towards three key outcomes for fresh water in New Zealand:

  • improve the quality and efficient use of fresh water

  • improve the management of the undesirable effects of land use on water quality

  • provide for increasing demands on water resources and encourage efficient water management.

To do this we need to strengthen regional management of fresh water and provide adaptable solutions and tools that councils and communities may apply to different regional circumstances.

During the year we prepared a draft proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management for Cabinet consideration and approval for release to a Board of Inquiry. A four-person board was appointed in July 2008 to lead public consultation.

A discussion document on a proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels was released for public consultation on 29 March 2008. Cabinet approved the policy for the proposed National Environmental Standard for the Measurements of Water Takes on 20 February 2008, which is currently being prepared for drafting.

Development of policy for new Exclusive Economic Zone legislation

New Zealand has one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones in the world. It is rich in resources such as fisheries and minerals. However, current laws do not provide for proper assessment of the environmental effects of activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Cabinet agreed in December 2006 that legislation should be developed to protect the environment and to encourage the sustainable development of resources such as seabed minerals or marine energy.

During the 2007/08 financial year the Ministry developed detailed policy for legislation, consulted with iwi, the public and key stakeholders on draft proposals, and secured Cabinet approval for drafting of the legislation. Final drafting of a Bill, and the introduction of legislation to Parliament, is scheduled for the 2008/09 financial year.

Risks to people, the economy and the environment from pollution, contamination and other environmental hazards are minimised.

Emissions Trading Scheme

The risks associated with climate change are of great concern internationally. Past and present greenhouse gas emissions have already committed the Earth to substantial climate change for the next century and beyond. Because New Zealand relies on primary production and tourism for its economic well-being, it is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

In September 2007, the Government announced its intention to introduce an Emissions Trading Scheme as its core price-based measure for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing forest carbon sinks.

The Ministry for the Environment was central to the advice given to the Government for the development of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme. The Emissions Trading Group, based in Treasury, involved staff from a number of departments with its nucleus being from the Ministry for the Environment.

The Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill was divided into the following bills:

These Bills both passed their third reading on 10 September 2008.

The Emissions Trading Scheme creates an incentive across the economy to reduce emissions and increase the removal of greenhouse gases via forestry. The scheme rewards decreases in emissions, while emitters will face the costs of any increases.

The scheme operates alongside other government policies and measures to reduce domestic emissions and achieve broader sustainability objectives.

Planning for climate change

During 2007/08 we focused on identifying research needed to support New Zealand’s climate change response, particularly the knowledge to support adaptation.

In addition, the Ministry prepared guidance material to help local government identify and quantify the opportunities and hazards climate change poses for their planning for communities. This is the second edition of a manual which was first produced in 2004. It provides an updated assessment of the science of climate change following the Fourth Assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Waste Minimisation Bill

Waste is a significant pressure on the natural and built environment and continues to be an issue of public concern. The New Zealand Waste Strategy sets the direction for reducing waste and ensuring that residual waste is disposed of in a safe manner.

Waste legislation, introduced as a Member’s Bill, has provided the opportunity to develop a sound legislative basis for waste minimisation and management in New Zealand. The Ministry prepared a Supplementary Order Paper, supported the Local Government and Environment Select Committee in its hearings on the proposed Bill, and prepared a comprehensive departmental report. The Waste Minimisation Bill was passed in September 2008 and work on implementation is under way.

The Bill includes provision for a levy on all waste disposed at those landfills that accept household waste, sets targets for reducing waste in landfills and cleanfills, provides for product stewardship programmes, revises the law relating to local government waste management and minimisation activity to put more emphasis on waste minimisation.

New Zealand is able to capitalise on its natural environmental advantages.

Leadership on environmental sustainability

The health of the environment is affected by the way every New Zealander behaves. The Ministry for the Environment has worked in partnership with key sectors, organisations and communities to encourage practices that improve the sustainability of households, businesses and the public sector.

In partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, we made good progress on initiatives to enable growth of sustainable business.

The capability of businesses to operate sustainably is being improved through partnerships with the Sustainable Business Network, the Better by Design programme, and in key sectors such as tourism, aquaculture and agriculture. Demand for sustainable products and services is being increased through the Govt3 Programme (for example, by specifying standards for the environmental performance of new buildings). In partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development we contributed to the sustainable government procurement framework released in September 2007 alongside the first tranche of procurement category reviews that included wood, wood products (including paper), travel, and lights and light fittings.

We also worked with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to organise cross-government processes for coordinating environmental sustainability projects. The Ministry has led a Deputy Secretaries group that has both monitored progress on the programme of work and coordinated new work on sustainability outcomes.

Developing the knowledge base to support environmental policy and management

The Ministry has increased its focus on connecting policy and environmental management needs with research and technology. We are keen to encourage research in areas that are of specific interest to our core focus, such as water, climate change and soil.

We are leading a coordinated approach with other government agencies that have an overlapping interest in sustainability and environmental management, including the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, Economic Development, Social Development, and the Department of Conservation.

This has increased understanding across government of New Zealand’s research needs in sustainability and environmental management. Of particular interest is how New Zealand can achieve high environmental standards without compromising its cultural, economic and social goals.

International celebration of World Environment Day

World Environment Day is a high-profile international celebration that is hosted by a different country each year in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). For the first time, in 2008 New Zealand hosted the international celebrations.

Though Wellington was the host city, a comprehensive programme of events and activities took place around New Zealand during the week of 2 – 8 June 2008.

The theme for World Environment Day 2008 was climate change, with a focus on moving towards a low carbon economy and lifestyle. “Kick the Habit” (the ‘carbon’ habit) was the international slogan for the event.

The Ministry’s work to coordinate the event in conjunction with UNEP resulted in:

  • 250 – 350 events nationwide, including 119 projects driven by the community with support from the Ministry for the Environment

  • high media coverage – over 741 articles with over 24 million potential readership, close to 5 hours of TV coverage and 5.4 hours of radio coverage.

International media and profile for New Zealand was promoted through:

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade posts around the world (many of these posts held World Environment Day receptions)

  • the presentation and reception at the OECD meeting in Paris, attended by Environmental Ministers and world press

  • global media coverage in major overseas newspapers and radio.

The hosting of World Environment Day was also promoted on UNEP’s World Environment website.

A full evaluation of the success of World Environment Day has been undertaken.

New Zealand’s natural resources are managed effectively and New Zealanders use resources sustainably.

National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission 2008

The efficient transmission of electricity around the country on the national grid plays a vital role in the well-being of New Zealand, its people and the environment. The importance of the national grid, which connects power stations to substations that feed local electricity distribution networks, will now be recognised in Resource Management Act plans and local decision-making.

A National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission was issued on 13 March 2008. The national policy statement establishes national grid activities as a matter of national significance for resource management. It requires that decision-makers have regard to this significance, and the objective and policies of the national policy statement, when they consider grid related applications. This will provide greater certainty for the planning and development of the country’s electricity transmission system, and help to ensure security of supply.

Household sustainability

The Household Sustainability Programme encourages people to cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, and reduce waste and water use in their everyday lives. The Ministry is leading this project, working with other central and local government agencies, to increase public awareness of actions everyone can take to improve a household’s sustainability.

Our web portal, www.sustainability.govt.nz, is a ‘front door’ for people who are interested in all things sustainable, providing access to a range of other sites or places to find information. As at 26 June 2008 the portal had 104,650 total visits and 79,645 unique visitors since its launch in December 2007.

A whole of government sustainability stand at public events throughout the country, such as Home Shows, enabled us to give advice to thousands of people about reducing their impact on the environment.

Environmental sustainability

Key elements of environmental sustainability linked to the Ministry’s work are:

  • using water, energy and raw materials efficiently

  • minimising waste, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions

  • purchasing products and services that minimise their impact on the environment

  • maintaining a healthy natural environment and protecting biological diversity.

 

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