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8. Management of the Ministry  

Advisory Bodies / Ministerial Committees 2007/08

Toi Te Taiao: The Bioethics Council

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring the Bioethics Council to exist. The Bioethics Council was established by a Cabinet minute as a Ministerial advisory group.

Purpose

To enhance New Zealand’s understanding of the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and to ensure that the use of biotechnology has regard for the values held by New Zealanders.

Board of Inquiry to consider the proposed National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission

Statutory basis

A Board of Inquiry is appointed under section 47 of the Resource Management Act to inquire into and report on a proposed national policy statement.

Purpose

A Board of Inquiry was appointed in February 2007 to consider the proposed National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission.

Business Compliance and Costs Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

To provide input and advice on the direction, focus, and method of implementation of the resource consent process by members’ organisations and colleagues.

Climate Change Iwi Leadership Forum

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis for this group to exist. It was established following Ministerial direction.

Purpose

To represent Māori at an overall strategic level in the climate change debate.

Climate Change Māori Reference Group and Climate Change Māori Reference Group Executive

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis for these groups to exist. A Māori Representative Group (now the Māori Reference Group) was established following the Government’s first round of regional consultation hui on its climate change and energy policies in February and March 2007. Following a meeting of the Māori Reference Group with Ministers in August 2007, a smaller working group was established to interact with Ministers and Crown officials. Three members of the Māori Reference Group were contracted to the Ministry as a Māori Reference Group Executive to act as expert advisers since September 2007. Contracts for this executive expired on 30 November 2007.

Purpose

To provide feedback and advice to the Government on the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme.

Climate Change Leadership Forum

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis for this group to exist. It was established following Cabinet direction in September 2007.

Purpose

To facilitate communication between the Government and the broader community as policy decisions are taken on the proposed design of a New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

Contaminated Land Policy Advisory Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

This is a local government and industry reference group used to develop best practice examples of contaminated land provisions in district plans.

Contaminated Land Technical Advisory Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

This is a group of central government toxicologists and contaminated land practitioners from industry and local government. They have been convened to advise on exposure pathways and the risks, benefits and costs of setting soil contaminant guideline values.

Contaminated Land Toxicological Advisory Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

This is a group of central government toxicologists convened to advise on the toxicological criteria used for developing a national methodology for deriving soil contaminant guideline values.

Environmental Legal Assistance Fund Advisory Panel

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist. In December 2000, the Government established the Environmental Legal Assistance Fund for the purpose of assisting participation by public interest groups in resource management cases before the Environment Court and higher Courts.

Purpose

The Panel was set up by the Ministry to provide independent evaluations and recommendations to the Secretary for the Environment on applications that were made to the Fund.

The Panel comprises seven members appointed for their knowledge of environmental law, resource management issues and community groups and iwi. The members are appointed by the Secretary for the Environment. The Panel’s Chairperson is Dr Royden Somerville QC, and it meets approximately every 5 weeks.

Fiordland Marine Guardians

Statutory basis

The Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005.

Purpose

The functions of the Fiordland Marine Guardians include advising and making recommendations to management agencies (the Ministry for the Environment, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Fisheries and Southland Regional Council) and Ministers about the effectiveness of management measures in the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area and likely threats to the area.

Flood Risk Management Technical Reference Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

This is a local government and sector reference group used to provide advice on developing a national policy statement on flood risk management.

Human Drinking-water Source Standard Reference Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

This is a local government and industry reference group used to develop a preferred option for the human drinking-water source standard.

Māori Water Reference Group (Wai Māori)

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist. This group was established upon an agreement by the Water Steering Group.

Purpose

To assist with the development of a policy process within the Sustainable Development Programme of Action.

Land Use and Carbon Analysis System Steering Committee

Statutory basis

Kyoto Protocol and United Nations Framework on Convention Change.

Purpose

To act as a steering committee for the development of the Land Use and Carbon Analysis System. To monitor progress, oversee stakeholder engagement and consider risks and issues.

Professional Development Scheme for RMA Decision-Makers Advisory Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

The members of the group are experienced RMA practitioners. They are responsible for providing an overview of the ‘Making Good Decisions’ decision-maker accreditation training programme, including provision of strategic advice on course material (and peer review of this material), complaints, and the future direction of the programme.

Quality Planning Website Management Panel

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

The panel comprises representatives from the New Zealand Planning Institute, Local Government New Zealand, the Resource Management Law Association, and the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors. Panel members are responsible for providing a strategic overview on both the content and direction of the Quality Planning website. They also act as a conduit to each of their respective partner organisations and are responsible for promoting the website to their membership.

Stormwater from Roads Reference Group – National Direction

Statutory basis

The formation of this group was required by Cabinet minute.

Purpose

This is a local government and industry reference group tasked to scope the need for national direction in stormwater management from roads.

Septic Tank Standard Reference Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

This is a local government and industry reference group used to develop a preferred option for a national environmental standard addressing septic tank management.

Special tribunals to consider the Oreti River Water Conservation Order application and the application to amend the Buller River Water Conservation Order

Statutory basis

The appointment of a special tribunal to consider an application for a water conservation order is required under section 202 of the Resource Management Act 1991.

Purpose

A special tribunal was appointed in September 2006 to consider an application for a water conservation order on the Oreti River and provide a report and recommendation to the Minister.

A special tribunal was appointed in August 2006 to consider an application to amend the Buller River Water Conservation Order and provide a report and recommendations to the Minister.

Sustainable Development Water Programme of Action – Ministerial Advisory Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist. This group was established by the Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry, and together with the Minister for the Environment to provide policy advice to the Sustainable Water Programme of Action (refer CAB Min (06) 11/11). This group was established in August 2005.

Purpose

The Ministerial Advisory Group reports to the Minister for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and underpins the successful delivery of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action goals through partnerships and collaboration.

The Ministerial Advisory Group, among other tasks:

  • assists Ministers to implement the Sustainable Water Programme of Action by advising on the priority that should be accorded to various water management issues and methods to address them

  • provides independent perspectives and strategic direction on priorities or focus for future action in implementing the Sustainable Water Programme of Action

  • provides assistance, as required and appropriate, in consultation with non-government stakeholders involved with implementing the Sustainable Water Programme of Action Strategy

  • acts as a sounding board for the Ministers on the implementation of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action.

Sustainable Development Water Programme of Action – Stakeholder Reference and Stakeholder Engagement Groups

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring these groups to exist. These groups were established to provide input to the Sustainable Development Water Programme of Action.

Purpose

The following reference and stakeholder groups provide input into the development of policy under the programme:

  • Iwi Chief Executives’ Environment Forum

  • Regional Affairs Committee Water Subcommittee

  • Regional Council – Resource Managers (RMG) Sub-group on Water

  • Non-governmental Organisations Environmental Reference Group

  • Primary Sector Partnership Liaison Group

  • Electricity Generators’ Reference Group

  • Ecological Flows Technical Working Group

  • Māori Advisers Reference Group.

Urban Design Advisory Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist. This group was set up as part of Sustainable Development Programme of Action to produce an Urban Design Protocol for New Zealand.

Purpose

To provide leadership and advice to the Minister for the Environment on the development and successful implementation of initiatives aimed at realising the objectives and anticipated outcomes of the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol.

Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme Advisory Group

Statutory basis

There is no statutory basis requiring this group to exist.

Purpose

To provide advice to the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in the development of proposals for a New Zealand Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme.

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

  • Aquaculture Reform (Repeals and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004

  • Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005

  • Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Act 2004.

 

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