Statement of Intent 2009-2012

• Introduction from the Chief Executive
• Nature and Scope of Functions
• Strategic Direction
• Operating Intentions
• Managing in a Changeable Operating Environment
• Organisational Health and Capability

Statement of Intent 2009-2012

Foreword: Minister for the Environment

The prominence of environmental issues in the 21st century makes the work within the Environment and Climate Change portfolios of increasing significance for New Zealand. Many of the big debates are about environmental issues and their interaction with New Zealand’s economic prosperity and quality of life.

I have a very clear view of the priorities I want to achieve in these portfolios and how these priorities can assist the Government to deliver both environmental outcomes and greater prosperity and, ultimately, a stronger society for New Zealanders. The key environmental issues that the new Government wants to make progress on are greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, biodiversity, air quality, waste management, and improved management of our ocean environment.

In achieving progress on these issues, the Government intends to pursue an appropriate balance between environmental goals and our economic objectives. We intend to reduce the costs, delays and uncertainties that create problems for homeowners, businesses and infrastructure providers. We want to advance environmental improvements in ways that result in the least cost to New Zealand’s society and economy.

My priorities over the next three years reflect these intentions. The priorities are:

• Reform of the Resource Management Act – Phase one of this reform will simplify and streamline the Act. Phase two of the reform is focused on sector-specific issues (including infrastructure, aquaculture, fresh water and urban design) and on better interaction with other statutes. The Government also intends to provide greater central government direction on implementation of the Act.
• Redesign and implementation of the Emissions Trading Scheme – The Emissions Trading Scheme is New Zealand’s primary policy instrument for addressing climate change and providing an incentive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme is being reviewed in light of the Government’s revised climate change objectives.
• Improving New Zealand’s freshwater management – We need a new direction on water policy, to achieve efficient water use, better planning for water demand, and better tools for managing water quality.
• Creating an Environmental Protection Authority – Phase one of the Resource Management Act reform creates an Environmental Protection Authority within the Ministry for the Environment. As part of phase two, the Government will establish an independent Environmental Protection Authority to handle major decisions under the Resource Management Act and approvals under other legislation.
• Ensuring that New Zealand constructively assists in achieving a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change – Negotiations on future action by the international community on climate change are now under way. The Government aims to ensure that New Zealand’s interests, in particular our unique primary production-based economy and emissions profile, are appropriately recognised in the process and outcomes.
• Advancing new legislation for the Exclusive Economic Zone management – Oceans policy work is focused on filling the gap of no regulation for the management of environmental effects of activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone. New legislation will be introduced in 2009.
• Implementing the Waste Minimisation Act – I see it as important to implement the new Waste Minimisation Act with local government and industry so as to ensure it does not cut across existing successful waste programmes. Implementation will include collection and distribution of a waste disposal levy and development of product stewardship schemes.
• Improving environmental reporting – I am initiating a review of options for improving assessment of New Zealand’s environmental performance. I plan to introduce a new Environmental Reporting Act that amends the roles and functions of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and the Ministry for the Environment under the Environment Act.

In addition to helping me to deliver on these priorities, I expect the Ministry for the Environment to work on becoming a respected, high-quality policy agency capable of leading advice to the Government on the environmental challenges facing New Zealand. It will be able to undertake this role more effectively if its increasing operational functions are managed separately.

Ministerial Statement of Responsibility

I am satisfied that the information on future operating intentions provided by my department in this Statement of Intent is in accordance with sections 38, 40 and 41 of the Public Finance Act 1989 and is consistent with the policies and performance expectations of the Government.

Hon Dr Nick Smith
Responsible Minister for Ministry for the Environment

30 April 2009

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