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1. Overview

Introduction from the Chief Executive

The financial year ended 30 June 2008 was a busy and difficult one for the Ministry for the Environment. The demands on and expectations of the Ministry have grown significantly in the past few years and the operating environment has become more complex. Environmental issues are so inter-connected with economic and social issues that we must contribute to many policy issues led by other agencies and to international work. All of this has been challenging for a small agency.

While significant progress was made in many work programmes, several investigations by the State Services Commission and other well-publicised problems highlighted some areas of organisational weakness that are now being addressed.

During the last five months of the financial year, under Acting Chief Executive Howard Fancy, the Ministry developed a series of strategies for change. These are aimed at more clearly defining and achieving longer term goals, developing the Ministry’s people and quality systems and processes, working effectively across the Ministry and with other agencies externally, and improving engagement with Māori.

A series of specific projects are now underway to implement these strategies. While many are in their early stages, I expect that these strategies and projects will ensure the senior leadership team can more effectively focus the Ministry’s work programmes and activities in the coming year.

At the same time we should not lose sight of what has been achieved during the 2007/08 year – publication of the second national state of the environment report, a major contribution to developing the Emissions Trading Scheme, a National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission, policy to improve regulation of environmental effects in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone, hosting the international World Environment Day celebrations, programmes to provide practical advice to government agencies, business and households about how to be more environmentally sustainable – and much more that will bear fruit in the new financial year.

I am confident that we are putting the foundations in place to enable the Ministry to meet increasing demands and expectations and to ensure that it can operate effectively in an increasingly complex area.

 

Paul Reynolds
Chief Executive

 

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