Chapter Three: The Ministry’s outcomes
Outcome framework
The Ministry’s principal objective is a good environment for New Zealand through good governance. This underpins all of our work, which is aimed at achieving one major outcome closely aligned to the Government’s goal of sustainable economic growth based on maximising the country’s competitive advantages. Central to this is the environment. The major outcome is supported by three more specific outcomes that reflect the key elements of sustainable development. A range of activities, some examples of which are included, contributes to each outcome.
Major outcome
The Ministry for the Environment works to achieve the sustainable development of New Zealand and expects the following outcomes:
Sustainable development is the context for all of the Ministry’s work. It assumes the implementation of the 10 principles of Sustainable Development for Policy and Decision Making adopted by the Government [Sustainable Development for New Zealand – Programme for Action, 2003, p10.] (see Appendix Two).
Outcome 1: Quality environment
There will be a good environment for New Zealand; the quality of the environment should meet the reasonable aspirations of New Zealanders.
All people should be able to live in a clean, healthy and safe environment, and biodiversity should be protected and enhanced. This will be achieved by working with others to clearly set goals for the parameters of the environment and to strive for their attainment. The mechanisms will vary from intrusive and forceful, through expecting and requiring, to wanting and encouraging. This outcome primarily contributes to the wider government outcome of ‘Protecting and enhancing the environment’.
Outcome 2: Good environmental governance
There will be good environmental governance for New Zealand. Governance includes setting directions, prioritising, being effective, being responsive, being trusted. The outcome will be good governance of the environment at all levels – central and local government, community, iwi, public and private firms, and by individuals.
Again this means the Ministry working with others to provide cohesive governance that is efficient and effective. It means that New Zealanders are told about and informed on environmental issues where they have an interest. It means they are given a say, and listened to, before decisions are made that affect them. It means that the Ministry will work to uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
This includes governance arrangements that involve:
- the Ministry:
- providing leadership on national environmental issues
- ensuring the Government receives one coherent set of advice, which incorporates a range of perspectives
- ensuring that legislation and regulation purposefully achieve effective and efficient management of environmental resources
- ensuring cost-effective regulation with minimal compliance costs or barriers to innovation
- exercising national and international roles
- the intergenerational role of the Crown in allocating resources, defining limits and bottom lines (eg, sustainable yields)
- setting bottom-line standards. (In some areas a lack of standards contributes to a playing field that is not level, less-than-efficient decision-making and uncertainty about environmental performance)
- eliminating arrangements that present purposeless barriers to development
- giving effect to the Government’s Sustainable Development Principles
- providing certainty of safety from harm (codes, standards, enforcement, penalties for non-compliance).
This outcome will contribute to the wider government outcome to ‘Maintain trust in government’ as well as to ‘Protect and enhance the environment’.
Outcome 3: Quality economic growth
Economic growth will follow the principles of sustainable development. This role we share with others.
Sustainable development is the context of much of the Ministry’s activity. As well as an overall role in this area, we have a particular role for the delivery of sustainable water and sustainable cities.
This outcome will contribute to the wider government outcome to ‘Grow an inclusive, innovative economy for the benefit of all’.
