Statement of Intent 2007-2010

Statement of Responsible Minister

Foreword from the Chief Executive

Part One: The Ministry

Statement of Responsibility

Part Two: Forecast Financial Statements

Contact information

Our outcomes

New Zealand's air, water, land and built communities are healthy

Context

Clean water and air, and well-planned urban communities are essential for people's well-being and health. New Zealanders enjoy a relatively clean and healthy environment, but there are issues that need attention.

• There are some areas (mostly urban) where concentrations of air pollution are quite high. Better air quality will improve health, reduce premature death and increase economic activity.
• Some aspects of water quality are declining, often as the unintentional consequences of land-use activities. Not all expectations and needs for fresh water are currently being met and demands are growing.
• The oceans within New Zealand's jurisdiction need an integrated management regime. Better management of environmental impacts in the Exclusive Economic Zone is a priority.
• New Zealand has a unique indigenous biodiversity, but evidence shows that in some places it is in decline. The Government wants to provide national direction on the protection of ecosystems that are most vulnerable to extinction of species.
• Many of New Zealand's towns and cities are grappling with issues such as coping with growth, maintaining infrastructure, reducing urban sprawl and dealing with traffic congestion.
• Greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere have reached the point where climate change is likely to continue. New Zealand's emissions are still rising.

Our role

The Ministry works closely with local government and other government departments to maintain and improve the health of New Zealand's environment. Local government is responsible for day to day management of the natural and built environment. The Ministry provides national direction through national policy statements and national environmental standards and works with local government to implement them.

We also work with local government to share information about best practice, ensure they have the tools needed to manage the environment, and raise public awareness of environmental issues. Equally important is our role in monitoring and reporting on the national state of the environment so that New Zealanders know what progress is being made.

Focus for the next three years

The Ministry will:

• implement the Sustainable Water Programme of Action to improve the quality and allocation of fresh water, and contribute to water quality improvements in Lake Taupo and the Rotorua lakes
• help New Zealand to prepare for and adapt to climate change, improve land use and minimise flood risk
• develop and implement programmes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• develop the environmental legislation framework to cover significant gaps in oceans management, particularly in the Exclusive Economic Zone
• ensure that the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol is implemented and supported by signatory organisations
• report on the state of the environment using a core set of environmental indicators
• support the community in protecting, sustaining and enhancing New Zealand's environment.

Key initiatives for 2007/08

The Ministry will:

• develop a national policy statement, national environmental standards and other tools to improve management of fresh water
• establish partnerships with priority stakeholders to implement ways to prepare New Zealand for the impacts of climate change
• identify and implement initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from small and medium sized businesses
• advise on and implement policy decisions on an environmental impacts regulatory regime in the Exclusive Economic Zone
• publish a national report on the state of New Zealand's environment.

New Zealand is able to capitalise on its natural environmental advantages

Context

New Zealand earns its living from the environment. The primary production sector and other businesses use the land, water and other natural resources to earn foreign exchange from selling food, wine, wool, and forest products. New Zealand's natural environment is also a strong attraction for tourists.

Becoming more environmentally sustainable - in government, farms, businesses and in our households - will improve New Zealand's attractiveness for the people who live here, skilled new immigrants, tourists and people overseas who buy our products. The Government sees increasing sustainability in New Zealand's resource use and way of life as essential to strengthen New Zealand's position against increasing pressure, because of the distance products must travel to markets and tourism must travel to this country.

Our role

We work with other government agencies and leading business networks to promote awareness among businesses of what they can do to improve their sustainability and their profitability. We work with the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Tourism and others to ensure that New Zealand businesses can improve their sustainability credentials and market environmental products and services.

We also promote New Zealand's environmental and sustainable development interests internationally. This includes leading the negotiation of environmental provisions in trade agreements and implementing environmental arrangements with other countries.

Focus for the next three years

The Ministry will:

• work with business to encourage and support delivery of sustainable business practice
• work with other government agencies to encourage and support sustainable business products and services
• work with business to ensure it can leverage off the Government's sustainable purchasing and practices
• implement environment cooperation arrangements signed in association with international trade agreements.

Key initiatives for 2007/08

The Ministry will:

• work with selected industry organisations and sectors to increase involvement in programmes promoting sustainable business practices
• contribute to work led by the Ministry of Economic Development to make it easier for New Zealand businesses to implement sustainable business practices
• work with the Ministry of Economic Development to encourage government agencies to implement sustainable procurement policies and support eco-verification
• contribute to work led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade seeking to conclude free trade agreements and associated environment cooperation arrangements with China, ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

New Zealand's natural resources are managed effectively and New Zealanders are encouraged to use resources sustainably

Context

To achieve a healthy environment, New Zealand needs effective policies, legislation and governance. It also needs laws and regulations that operate efficiently in practice. Local government operates under the Resource Management Act in its role of sustainable management of natural resources. Changes to the Resource Management Act came into force on 1 August 2005 and were designed to strengthen national direction, improve consistency and provide greater support to local government.

Using resources efficiently, cutting down on waste and finding better ways to dispose of waste are vital to make the New Zealand economy sustainable. While significant progress has been made over the past few years, the Government is increasing its focus on reducing and managing waste.

Product stewardship promotes more efficient and responsible use of resources, rather than dealing with the waste problem at the point the product is thrown away. The Government sees the need for legislation as a backstop to support product stewardship schemes. It also considers that additional funding through a levy on waste will increase the scope and effectiveness of local and national waste minimisation initiatives.

Our role

The Ministry works to improve the effectiveness of environmental laws and to ensure they are implemented effectively. We lead work to improve the Resource Management Act and its implementation, deal with amendments and regulations, and monitor the Act's implementation. This includes reviewing the quality of local government's performance of its Resource Management Act functions and advising the Government on any action necessary. We assist Ministers with their responsibilities under environmental laws, including water conservation orders and requiring authorities.

By working with local government and iwi, we seek to increase the effectiveness of Māori participation in the management and use of natural resources. We also provide advice on the use of natural resources in the settlement of historical Treaty of Waitangi grievances and fulfil some obligations under settlements.

Our role includes encouraging New Zealanders to sustainably use resources such as energy and raw materials. We encourage businesses and consumers to take responsibility for the environmental effects of products through product stewardship schemes and other activities. In partnership with local government and industry, we work to minimise and improve management of waste and to monitor progress with the New Zealand Waste Strategy.

Focus for the next three years

The Ministry will:

• monitor and review the quality of Resource Management Act processes and decisions and improve practice by providing guidance and training to resource management practitioners, decision makers, and the public
• improve sustainability in government agencies, focusing on energy use, waste and purchasing of office products and vehicles
• raise awareness of what households can do to address climate change, improve energy efficiency, save money and reduce waste and water use
• work with industry and local government to improve waste diversion and reuse.

Key initiatives for 2007/08

The Ministry will:

• carry out one subject-based review of resource management practice and three projects to provide targeted assistance to councils
• support core government agencies to implement environmentally sustainable practices
• improve waste minimisation and management by
  • working with the waste sector in priority areas (green waste, construction and demolition waste)
  • progressing policy work on funding for waste minimisation and developing tools (such as product stewardship)
  • giving effect to the New Zealand Waste Strategy
• begin development of a long-term monitoring and reporting framework for waste.

Risks to people, the economy and the environment from pollution, contamination and other environmental hazards are minimised

Context

Governments internationally acknowledge the contribution of human activity to changing climatic conditions and have agreed to take action. Climate change is a long-term strategic issue for this country. It is a risk to agriculture and other climate-sensitive industries, native ecosystems, infrastructure, health, biosecurity, communities and the economy. New Zealand has commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol to reduce or take responsibility for its emissions of greenhouse gases and report on what action is being taken.

One of the likely impacts of climate change is more frequent extreme weather, droughts and floods. Many New Zealand communities are vulnerable to flooding. The Government wants to understand what future flood risk might look like, taking into account changing land use patterns and climate change, and what action is needed to improve management of the risks.

Pollution is also a risk to people and the environment. Compared to many industrialised nations, New Zealand has generally low levels of toxic contaminants in the environment. There are policies in place or being developed to further reduce the risks to New Zealanders from exposure to contaminants arising from manufacturing and using or storing chemicals, industrial residues and waste products. Some implementation issues related to compliance and enforcement system for hazardous substances and inconsistencies between laws still need to be addressed. New Zealand also has a legacy of land contamination in some places because of the way land and chemicals were used in the past.

Our role

The Ministry leads cross-government work on climate change policy to reduce New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions and meet our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. We also participate in international negotiations of further climate change commitments. To meet New Zealand's international reporting obligations, we develop and maintain greenhouse gas and carbon stocks accounting and reporting systems.

Climate change will increase the risk of floods and other natural hazards. The Ministry is leading a review of flood risk management, which will improve how New Zealand manages flood risk and river control. This project is closely connected with our work on catchment and water management, and with the need to adapt to climate change.

We work with other government agencies to ensure that the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act operates efficiently and to address any implementation issues. We monitor the performance of the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA New Zealand), which makes decisions on the introduction of hazardous substances and new organisms to New Zealand.

The Ministry leads work to address the historical issues relating to land contamination. This includes assisting to remediate or manage high-risk areas, expanding existing guidelines, leading a national collection of unwanted agricultural chemicals and developing national environmental standards.

Focus for the next three years

The Ministry will:

• implement New Zealand's climate change policy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and meet the commitments under the Kyoto Protocol
• implement New Zealand's carbon accounting system
• advise and assist 34 core public service departments to achieve carbon neutrality from 2012
• help New Zealanders adapt to the impacts of climate change
• develop a robust approach to managing flood risk and controlling rivers in New Zealand that clearly identifies central and local government interests, assigns responsibilities, and is adaptable to local and regional circumstances
• develop and oversee a sustainable compliance and enforcement system to ensure the adverse effects of hazardous substances are properly managed
• develop a national policy framework for managing contaminated land

Key initiatives for 2007/08

The Ministry will:

• advise the Government so that it can finalise plans to reduce New Zealand's greenhouse gases during the first Kyoto Protocol commitment period (2008-2012), and implement policy, legislation and regulations in accordance with the decisions
• establish partnerships with priority stakeholders to ensure these sectors incorporate climate change risk management into relevant decision making
• lead the work with five other government departments to have plans for carbon neutrality in place by early 2008
• develop a national policy statement on flood risk management.