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The state of New Zealand’s environment
The most comprehensive report on this country’s environment for a decade will be released when Environment New Zealand 2007 is published.
People who make decisions about the environment need
accurate information.
A core team of Ministry staff has been responsible for producing the report of more than 400 pages.
“As we take action to achieve sustainability, having comprehensive information on the well-being of New Zealand’s environment is crucial. Environment New Zealand 2007 will offer essential guidance as our decision makers focus on ensuring this country’s unique environment is well managed and protected long into the future,” said Secretary for the Environment, Hugh Logan.
The first major report of this type was 1997’s largely qualitative The State of New Zealand’s Environment. Logan says the new report will give a national picture, but also show trends over time, reflecting an evolution in environmental monitoring and reporting by both territorial and central government during the past decade.
“The 1997 report concluded that New Zealand’s environmental information needed considerable upgrading. I’m pleased that an emphasis on the Ministry developing a national reporting framework has led to this new benchmark report being possible,” said Logan.
Justine Daw, Manager of Environmental Reporting, says it’s important to have a detailed quantitative report to inform our sustainability work programmes. Producing Environment New Zealand 2007 has been an ambitious and challenging project but a necessary one.
“We had a huge amount of help from staff in local and regional councils, and other agencies. Without their expertise it would have been difficult to collate the information essential to the report’s success,” said Daw.
Logan says the report represents another step in the commitment by central government to regular reporting on the state of New Zealand’s environment.
“If we want a sustainable environment that supports our social and economic well-being, we need a clear picture of the challenges we face and the progress we have made. We want this report to help foster national conversation with New Zealanders on environmental sustainability.”
The Ministry is finalising the report which will be circulated widely and made available on the Ministry’s website.
Environment New Zealand 2007 is divided into three sections:
- setting the context
- ressures on the environment (household consumption, transport, energy and waste)
- state of the environment (air, atmosphere, land, fresh water, oceans and biodiversity)
For more information contact Justine Daw on (04) 439 7594 or email justine.daw@mfe.govt.nz
