• About this site|
• Site index|
• Contact us

Working with you

• Consultation
• Green Ribbon Awards
• Conferences & events
• Environmental wellbeing and Local Government
• Funding sources
• What you can do

Talk Environment Roadshow 2005: Public presentation

Introduction

Welcome – and thank you for coming.

We came here because we want to hear from you – you are the important non-government input into our work.

Last year we had 1350 people at these meetings. This year it looks like we will talk to at least 2500 people.

We will start today with a short presentation, followed by discussions at your tables.

Finally, we will ask each table to give a brief report back on their key messages.

The major topics for discussion this year are the Resource Management Act, national environmental standards under the RMA, and waste.

We will begin the presentation with a brief update on how some of the feedback you gave us last year was used.

Then we will talk briefly about some other topical issues and this year's major topics.

Since we were last here

Speech notes:

Last year the proposed changes to the Resource Management Act were generally supported.

You asked us to look at some things, including hearing procedures, consistency of local decision making and some capacity issues.

We took account of these in developing the amendments to the RMA and in other RMA work programmes.

Since last year we have run 21 workshops as part of the Making Good Decisions programme. This aims to strengthen the skills of councillors and commissioners involved in RMA decision making. 565 people took part in the first round of workshops and the feedback was very positive.

The review of flood management got a positive reception last year. Your comments helped to focus the work programme.

In line with your feedback, climate change will be considered as part of the flood review. We have also prepared guidance to help councils assess and manage the risk of climate change in their area.

We will talk about national standards and waste later in the presentation.

Sustainable water programme

Speech notes:

The Sustainable Water Programme of Action was established in 2003 as part of the Sustainable Development Programme of Action.

It aims to:

• improve freshwater management in a way that takes account of environmental, social, cultural and economic values, and
• develop tools and approaches to help local government manage water.

Key themes from the public consultation earlier this year included:

• local decision making should be retained
• greater involvement by the community in finding solutions is wanted
• Maori asked for more involvement in management and decision making about water
• views on economic instruments were mixed
• there is a need for integrated management – whole catchment, whole system, urban/rural linkages and land/water linkages.

We are now working with other government departments to develop initial policy options, taking into account the feedback from about 1500 people at meetings and more than 250 written submissions.

Climate change policy review

Speech notes:

There is growing evidence that global warming over the past 50 years is caused mainly by human activity increasing the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Countries have agreed to work together to try to slow the rate at which it happens.

The government's climate change policy is designed to meet New Zealand's Kyoto Protocol commitments and to prepare for the effects of climate change.

Since the world is rapidly changing, the Ministry is leading a review of that policy.

Government officials are being assisted by external experts and key stakeholders. There is no public submission process at this stage.

The review team will report by 31 October 2005.

Cabinet will then decide on the next steps, including whether more detailed information on particular policy options is required as a basis for decision making.

RMA Amendments

Speech notes:

In reviewing the Resource Management Act, the Government wanted to improve the Act without compromising good environmental outcomes or public participation.

The process was led by Ministers and worked across government to ensure all views were represented.

Local Government New Zealand also played a significant role.

The package of improvements announced late last year resulted in an Amendment Bill and other work programmes to improve how the RMA operates in practice.

The Amendment Bill attracted 322 submissions.

As a result of the submissions and the work of the select committee, a number of positive changes were made to the Bill.

The changes to the Electricity Act were separated out before the Bill was passed, so that it became the Resource Management Amendment Act 2005.

Improving the RMA

Speech notes:

National leadership was seen as a key way to improve how the RMA works in practice. We will talk about national policy statements and national environmental standards later.

The amendments streamline the process for local plan and policy making, make regional policy statements more effective, and clarify some council functions.

Existing investment is recognised when resource consents expire. The amendments also allow the Minister to direct councils to change or prepare plans.

The amendments improve certainty for iwi involvement in council policy and plan making, while clarifying the consultation requirements for consent applicants.

At resource consent hearings, the consent authorities now have a range of new powers available to use where appropriate.

Monitoring and review of council performance is being improved and one-on-one assistance is available for selected councils.

Big and complex decisions

Speech notes:

Some big or complex decisions need to be dealt with at a national level or with assistance from central government.

Local Government New Zealand suggested some useful provisions for how central government could be involved.

They provide a means of working with councils when decisions are too big for local decision making.

More tools are now available to the Minister. Decisions about using these options are made in consultation with the relevant councils.

If calling in an application, the Minister can send it either to a specialist board of inquiry or to the Environment Court.

For discussion

• What information and guidance do you need about the Resource Management Act or recent amendments?

National Policy Statements

Speech notes:

A national policy statement on indigenous biodiversity has been in development since 2001. Progress has been slow because of difficulties in getting agreement.

The Land Environments New Zealand Classification system and LandCover Database now enable us to pinpoint priority areas for protection.

These are areas, such as wetlands and dunes, where vegetation cover has been significantly reduced. There are also some ecosystems that are naturally uncommon and need protection.

The national policy statement now focuses on the Protection of Rare and Depleted Indigenous Vegetation.

We have been asked to undertake more consultation on this approach before discussing the next steps with the government.

Consideration is also being given to national policy statements on electricity transmission and electricity generation.

The Department of Conservation is leading a review of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.

National standards: air and toxics

Speech notes:

The first 14 national environmental standards under the RMA were introduced in October 2004. All but one are now in force.

These deal with:

• greenhouse gas emissions from landfills
• emissions of dioxins and other toxics
• design of new domestic wood burners
• ambient air quality.

Air pollution is a serious health risk. From 1 September 2005, regional councils must monitor air quality and publicly report if the air in the region does not meet the ambient standards.

Councils were required to define 'air sheds', where it is likely that the standards are exceeded. These are shown on the map.

They have flexibility to decide how to achieve the targets that the standards set.

The Ministry is working with regional councils on implementation of the standards and has provided funding for air quality monitoring equipment.

National standards: human drinking water sources

Speech notes:

We are proposing a national environmental standard for human drinking water sources. This has now been formally notified for consultation.

The exact wording of the new standard will be legally drafted after submissions have been considered. Submissions are wanted by 28 November.

In essence the proposed standard will state:

• New activities in water supply catchments that require resource consents will be allowed only if they do not pollute water to the extent that it cannot be made safe to drink.
• Councils will need to assess whether activities that are already allowed in water supply catchments without resource consents will make water unsafe or unpleasant to drink after treatment.
• Anyone who has a resource consent for activities in a water supply catchment must let the water supplier know immediately if they have a spill or problem that could affect the water quality.
• Water suppliers will have to take action if an activity in the catchment means that the water can no longer be made safe to drink. This could include turning off the water supply.

Standards: contaminated land

Speech notes:

The Ministry is developing a proposal for a national environmental standard for the clean up of contaminated land.

The standard will say what levels of clean up of contaminants in soil will produce a risk to people that is so low as to be acceptable.

These levels will be based on the work of the Australian and New Zealand Environment Council.

Standards would be set for chemicals of concern for people's health such as arsenic, cadmium, DDT and lead.

If the standards are exceeded, the risk to people must be assessed in detail and the site cleaned up or the risk managed.

The risk to people might sometimes be managed by methods such as paving the site.

Other standards being considered include telecommunications facilities, electricity transmission, electricity generation, land transport noise, bio-solids, and sewage discharges in the coastal marine area.

For discussion

• What do you think about the proposed standard for drinking water sources?
• What do you think about the proposed standards for contaminated land?
• How can we help you to have input into the development of standards?

New Zealand Waste Strategy

Speech notes:

Feedback at these meetings last year indicated that people feel waste minimisation and resource recovery are important.

The Ministry and local government have continued to make progress in waste management:

• 74% of councils reflect the goals of the Waste Strategy in their Waste Management Plans
• Recycling target 1.4 has been achieved
• There has been continued uptake in the collection of recyclables at the kerbside
• The Sustainable Management Fund has provided support for community waste initiatives. 98 projects were funded to the value of $9 ½ million between 1995 and 2004.

At the national level:

• The legislative framework has been strengthened
• A formal product stewardship policy has been developed.

Product stewardship schemes

Speech notes:

New Zealand has a number of voluntary agreements for dealing with special wastes, in particular tyres, used oil and packaging.

The Packaging Accord has already shown the value of a voluntary accord, through the effort that has gone into resolving issues associated with recycled glass.

Some companies have also taken on responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products throughout their life cycle.

These schemes include collecting up old cellphones, traded-in whiteware, some computers, and used paint cans.

The Ministry is exploring the need for a formal product stewardship policy supported by legislation.

The legislation would be a 'backstop' to help us deal with those who 'free ride' on schemes designed, implemented and funded by others.

Submissions on the discussion document closed at the end of August.

The final shape of any product stewardship policy will be discussed with the government after submissions on the discussion document have been considered.

Hazardous waste management

Speech notes:

The Ministry is working towards a national hazardous wastes policy, with the aim of having a policy framework in place by the end of this year.

Many elements of the policy framework are already in place.

This includes national standards and regulations, and guidance for local government.

The Ministry has been working with regional councils to collect and safely dispose of unwanted agricultural chemicals.

180 tonnes of waste agrichemicals were removed between 2003 and 2005.

We are expecting another 90 tonnes to be collected in 2005/06.

Ongoing financial support is provided by the Ministry for the remediation of contaminated sites in New Zealand.

For discussion

• What are the key waste issues in your district or region?
• What partnerships do you think would help to deal with issues around waste?

Now it's our turn to listen

Speech notes:

If you would like to know more about the Ministry and what we do, there is information in your packs and brochures available at the publications table.

A reminder about what happens next:

• There will be discussion at the tables on the key topics. If you want to discuss other topics, please join the General table.
• Ministry staff are at each table to help facilitate the discussion and to take notes.
• Each table is asked to select someone to report back to the meeting – not a Ministry staff member
• The Ministry will note all the feedback so that it can be followed up back in Wellington.
• Summaries of the feedback from the meetings will be available on the Ministry's website.

Last updated: 17 September 2007