Environz

• Better systems for better outcomes
• RMA on the road
• Fiordland Marine Guardians release annual report
• Environmental Protection Authority is born
• Tui Mine – two years on
• Waste Minimisation Fund criteria released
• LUCAS 2009 – a space odyssey
• Greener future for NZ film
• We can’t manage what we don’t measure
• Electric vehicles catch the eye of the Kiwi motorist
• National Environmental Reporting Forum
• In brief & For your diary

Environz
November 2009

Better systems for better outcomes

The launch of the Environmental Protection Authority (Te Mana Rauhī Taiao) on 1 October marks yet another big development for the Ministry in a year of significant changes and achievements for us.

The office was established as part of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009, which came into force on the same day as the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) was launched.

Te Mana Rauhī Taiao translates as “to protect the mana of the environment” or “the authority to protect the environment”, and the establishment of this office within the Ministry signals a new era in managing New Zealand’s natural resources.

Protecting our natural resources requires effective monitoring and management systems. To achieve this, we need to take a collaborative approach to environmental governance and resource management.

As Secretary for the Environment, I will be responsible for the EPA. It’s a new and exciting role for me, as well as a major milestone for environmental management in New Zealand.

At the moment, work is underway to strengthen the understanding and knowledge of how the EPA and councils’ RMA processes can work together to improve the processing of large resource consents.

The Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 formed a significant component of the Ministry’s work over the last year. The Ministry has received positive feedback on the seminars we ran throughout New Zealand during September for practitioners affected by the changes. We will continue to engage with those who regularly work with the Resource Management Act about the changes to the legislation and what they will mean for them.

A range of critical environmental issues – all of which pose various challenges – are driving our work. It is crucial that good environmental management systems are put in place to get the best outcomes we can for our environment.

As we close in on the end of another year of big changes and big achievements for the Ministry, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a fantastic summer break.

Paul Reynolds
Chief Executive
Ministry for the Environment

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