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Organisational responsibilities
The Ministry comprises six working groups that enable efficient delivery of our work programmes. In 2006, we restructured the climate change group. The functions of this team were absorbed into Central Government, Reporting and Review, with parts remaining in the Sustainable Industry Group.
The Senior Management Group
Leading, directing and linking the work of the Ministry internally and externally is the role of the Acting Chief Executive, Sue Powell, who is supported by the Deputy Chief Executive, Lindsay Gow, and five General Managers. The Senior Management Group ensures that all policy development and actions link cohesively, and that activities and outcomes are well defined, to ensure everything the Ministry does contributes to a good environment through good governance.
Working with Central Government
The Working with Central Government Group is led by Dave Brash. This group is the primary force behind the environmental sector leadership role that the Ministry will undertake across government. It is responsible for developing and maintaining the framework of environmental legislation and developing environmental policy such as an oceans policy, hazardous substances and new organisms, and product stewardship.
The Working with Central Government Group is coordinating a whole-of-government approach to climate change policy development, including liaison with stakeholders, and the development of New Zealand’s international negotiating position.
The Group also works on policy in the areas of marine issues, foreshore and seabed issues and Treaty of Waitangi claims relating to natural resources.
Other key work areas include providing support for the Bioethics Council, managing relationships with Ministers, other government agencies and iwi, and monitoring the performance of ERMA and EECA.
Working with Local Government
The Working with Local Government Group is led by Martyn Pinckard, who is currently acting in this position while Sue Powell is acting as the Chief Executive. It manages the relationship with local government and works with local government in areas of collective interest. It also reports on the performance of our environmental policies, carries out statutory functions under the RMA, and develops National Environmental Standards and other national instruments.
Sustainable Industry
The Sustainable Industry Group is led by Rachel Depree. It promotes sustainable business practices and supports innovation in environmental management by working with industry and business to identify solutions. It works with targeted sectors to improve environmental performance through initiatives such as product stewardship, policy measures to reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable procurement practices.
Reporting and Review
The Reporting and Review Group is led by Maryanne Macleod. It works to ensure that New Zealanders have credible environmental information to make good decisions and measure progress in maintaining a healthy environment, including our contribution to the global environmental effort. It monitors and reports on the effectiveness of policies and legislation; liaises with the science community to report on emerging environmental issues and inform policy decision-making; coordinates national, international and other environmental reporting obligations; and works closely with local government to evaluate the effectiveness of policies, plans and decisions related to the RMA (1991) and the Ministry’s other statutes.
Urban and Maruwhenua
The Urban and Maruwhenua Group is led by Lindsay Gow. The urban team provides leadership across central government for Urban Affairs (as a specific portfolio responsibility of the Minister for the Environment). Over the next three years, the team’s work will build on these foundations to facilitate and promote cross-government delivery of the policies and programmes to make New Zealand’s towns and cities more successful. Included in this is the implementation of the Urban Design Protocol. The team also administers the Environmental Legal Assistance Fund.
The Maruwhenua team undertakes work with Māori on resource management issues, including encouraging Māori to be leaders in creating positive environmental outcomes.
Corporate and Community
The Corporate and Community Group is led by Fiona Morgan. It promotes environmental awareness and action in the community, coordinates corporate communications and manages relationships with the community. It is also responsible for the coordination and provision of legal, strategic and financial advice – advice on legislation, compliance, contractual relationships and payments to, and with, stakeholders.
Alongside this, the Group provides the information, human resource and administrative support required for an organisation with 280 employees. From these three teams the Ministry is provided with strategies to support reporting, capacity and capability.
Ministry for the Environment organisational chart
See figure at its full size (including text description).
