Foreword
Our work programmes at the Ministry for the Environment are constantly evolving. As programmes move from development of policy through to effective implementation, the nature of the work and the priorities change. We need to be able to adapt and change with it. We made a number of significant changes in 2005 – to our structure, to our legislation, and to some work programmes. This Statement of Intent reflects those changes as we continue to adapt and implement that work.
The Ministry will monitor and report on the New Zealand environment. The newly established Reporting and Review Group will ensure the development of core tools to help us understand our environment.
The Resource Management Act and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act were both amended last year. These amendments see our work programmes in these areas move into the implementation phase.
In 2004, Government announced a review of flood risk management. The background work for this is nearly complete. In the year ahead, the review will ensure the approaches to managing flood risk and river control are robust. It will also address the roles of local and central government in managing flood risk.
Work is underway to develop a management system for our oceans. Led by the Ministry, this whole-of-government programme will develop a system that ensures our oceans are used sustainably.
A whole-of-government climate change policy review took place in 2005. A significant work programme for the Ministry resulted from this and we will continue to develop a strategic framework for climate change. This work programme is important because the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol is 2008-2012.
The Ministry for the Environment’s Statement of Intent sets out our main work programmes for 2006-2009. We welcome the challenges it presents and look forward to delivering on them.
Sue Powell
Acting Chief Executive
