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Big changes for the Ministry
On 1 July, the Ministry formally began its business under a new structure which will see a change in our focus, our capabilities, and in terms of how we work.
Our new ways of working will be driven by a stronger ‘whole of Ministry’ perspective, involving more cross organisational teams working on specific projects or programmes of work as we deal with increasing demands and expectations.
The Ministry will now operate under three divisions – Policy, Programmes, and Strategy and Corporate.
The new Policy Division will focus on strategic policy issues and strengthening policy relationships across economic and social policy sectors. This Division will house the Climate and Risk Directorate, centred on strategic policy development and management of the risks to people from climate change; and the Natural and Built Environment Policy Directorate, which will work across sectors to achieve connections for reducing adverse environmental impacts and to develop policy settings that enable behavioural change.
The Programmes Division encompasses Ministry operational, implementation and delivery programmes. It will include the Environmental Protection Directorate, focussed on operational aspects of the various statutes the Ministry is responsible for, like the development and roll out of policy tools; and monitoring of and compliance with statutory instruments.
The Operations Directorate will also sit in the Programmes Division and will work with stakeholders in local government, business and the community to roll out and support environmental management on the ground.
The Information Directorate, which will focus on gathering information and evidence for the development of sound, effective policy, programmes and operations will be housed in this Division also.
The Strategy and Corporate Division will include the Sector Strategy Directorate. Its focus is to collaborate with cross government partners to demonstrate our leadership role and drive the Natural Resources Network. It will also be home to the Organisation Performance Directorate, which will provide support to the corporate functions to develop new systems, policies and procedures.
The new structure will go a long way towards enabling us to collaboratively and strategically deliver on major environmental outcomes. I am looking forward to the change and to meeting the challenges we face now and in the future for delivering tangible and beneficial outcomes for New Zealanders.
Paul Reynolds
Chief Executive
Ministry for the Environment
