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The context in which we work

The Government sees environmental sustainability as becoming central to New Zealand’s national identity and how we should project ourselves to the world. It is calling for a commitment to greater sustainability in our resource use and way of life.

Environmental sustainability means ensuring that the environment is healthy and can continue to support our quality of life and economy based on natural resources.

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

New Zealand earns its living from the environment. The primary production sector, the tourism industry and other businesses use the land, water and other natural resources to earn foreign exchange. Using resources efficiently, reducing waste and improving energy efficiency are vital to make the New Zealand economy sustainable.

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 New Zealand products.

The Ministry’s work programmes are focused on:

achieving healthy air, water, land and built communities;
capitalising on New Zealand’s environmental advantages;
encouraging sustainable use of natural resources and ensuring resources are managed effectively;
managing risks to people and the environment.

Our key relationships are with:

Central government

Our main working relationships with other government departments focus on those with interests in the natural or built environment and with the core government agencies whose interests run right across the public service.

We have partnerships with, and responsibility for, advising our Ministers on the work programmes, budgets and governance of two Crown agencies:

Local government

Local government has the day to day responsibility for environmental management. Many of the Ministry's policies and programmes rely on local government to implement them. We work with Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) to build our relationship with regional councils and territorial authorities.

Sustainable business

Most New Zealand export and tourism businesses rely on New Zealand's natural environment. Agriculture and horticulture use more than 50 percent of our land and rely on other natural resources such as water. International visitors come to this country primarily for the environment - the spectacular landscapes, biodiversity, and opportunities for outdoor recreation. All of these sectors depend implicitly or explicitly on the quality of our natural environment and international perceptions about a clean, safe and healthy environment.

The activities of business can affect our environment through resource use, use of hazardous substances, waste generation, emissions, discharges and need for infrastructure.

We want to make it easier for New Zealand businesses to find out about and implement sustainable business practices.

The community

Community groups take action at a local level and interact with our other key stakeholders such as local government and business on environmental matters of importance.

We encourage public awareness of environmental issues, action for the environment and capability building through funding partnerships; we go out to the regions and discuss environmental issues with the community in forums such as the Talk Environment Roadshow; and we give the wider community opportunities to have a say through our public consultation on environmental policy proposals.