Ministry outcomes

Promote community awareness and participation in action for the environment.

Enhancing opportunities to promote sustainable development through events such as the Talk Environment roadshow, the Youth Environment Forum, and the Sustainable Management Fund allows the community to be better placed to protect and restore our environment.

Identify and negotiate an appropriate environmental dataset and reporting framework to meet national and international reporting requirements, and to enable the promotion of New Zealand's environmental achievements and best practice.

Decision-makers need useful national environmental data that is scientifically robust yet pragmatic and of use.

The Ministry is responsible for reporting national scale environmental information to meet reporting requirements.

Many New Zealanders are taking action to protect and enhance natural resources and use them more sustainably. Highlighting the measurable benefits of those actions recognises those achievements and will encourage further beneficial actions.

• High turnout to and positive feedback from the annual Talk Environment roadshows and other major consultation programmes.
• The number of visits to the websites administered by the Ministry.
• Perceptions of the state and management of the New Zealand environment as measured in the biennial Lincoln University research.
• Awareness about climate change as measured in the market research for the four million careful owners programme.
• Awareness about freshwater and biodiversity as measured in proposed market research.
• Monitoring of community projects funded through the Sustainable Management Fund show that all goals and objectives of the projects are met.

Develop a robust approach to managing flood risk and controlling rivers in New Zealand.

The Manawatu and Bay of Plenty floods in 2004 highlighted the vulnerability that communities face when a major flood hits. Following from this the Government announced it would undertake a review of flood risk management to understand what future flood risk might look like, including changing land use patterns, climate change and how well flood risk is currently being managed.

Continue to implement the objectives of the New Zealand Waste Strategy, including through partnering with industry.

The New Zealand Waste Strategy was adopted by the Government in 2002. It provides a broad policy framework for the achievement of central and local governments' policy objectives for the reduction and management of waste.

Identify and make progress on priorities for urban affairs.

Setting clear strategic priorities for the improvement of our urban areas will lead to improved co-ordination across government and improved outcomes in urban areas throughout New Zealand, particularly in the delivery of government urban infrastructure.

Implement national and regional sustainable cities programmes.

The Government's Sustainable Development Programme of Action has a sustainable cities workstream. The Ministry's particular focus is on sustainable urban form, design and development, including implementing the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol. Urban design is a critical factor affecting the quality, liveability and competitiveness of our towns and cities.

Develop measures to improve how homes are heated in New Zealand in areas of poor air quality.

The Ministry for the Environment wants to encourage families to make their homes more energy efficient and install cleaner heating.

• Improvements in waste management are shown through monitoring of progress towards the targets of the New Zealand Waste Strategy.
• At least two new agreements are negotiated with producers of special wastes.
• The number of signatories implementing the Urban Design Protocol continues to grow.
• One home heating pilot (in a low socio-economic area) retrofitted.

Work with key industry sectors to develop and support voluntary accords and extended producer responsibility schemes to manage environmental impacts and improve environmental performance.

Voluntary, industry led programmes allow the responsibility for the environmental impacts of a product to be shared with producers, importers, brand owners, retailers and other parties involved in the life cycle of a product.

The Government has entered into a number of voluntary accords to improve the environmental performance of New Zealand. As a partner in the accords we will work with industry to ensure effective implementation.

Promote and support good sustainability practices in business through developing eco-efficiency projects with industry and exploring opportunities to use market-based instruments.

Success of key industries, specifically tourism and film, is strongly linked to our international reputation as a clean environmental destination. To enable industry to compete and grow sustainably we will support businesses to increase their awareness and implementation of sustainable business practices.

Lead government actions embedding sustainable practices into government departments including procurement, transport and waste management practices (Govt³).

Government activities make up a large proportion of the New Zealand economy, and government spending on goods and services amounts to over $5billion per year. Improving the sustainability of this activity will reduce the environmental impact of central government.

Work with industry to look for business opportunities arising from climate change.

The Government wants to maximise benefits of a low carbon economy and encourage uptake of new technologies.

Lead the negotiation of environment provisions in international trade agreements.

To align international trade and environmental sustainability with national environmental and sustainable development objectives and to identify associated opportunities to influence an area of international importance.

• There is strong and growing uptake of government/industry partnership programmes such as sustainable tourism.
• Action is taken by the dairy industry and regional councils to meet the targets of the Clean Streams Accord, shown by monitoring of the accord.
• Monitoring of the Packaging Accord shows action is being taken to reduce unnecessary packaging in New Zealand.
• A voluntary accord covering environmental impacts of offshore petroleum exploration is agreed and progress is made towards the targets.
• The number of government agencies making a commitment to action on sustainability through the Govt³ programme continues to grow (38 as at March 2005).
• Over time, environmental impact information for Govt³ member agencies and topic groups shows improvement against the baseline data to be collected in 2005.
• Increased business uptake of the range of projects available including the Projects to Reduce Emissions and Clean Development Mechanism.
• New Zealand's trade agreements with other countries and international trade policies contain environmental provisions.

Implement policies and programmes including Negotiated Greenhouse Agreements, carbon tax, Projects to Reduce Emissions, agricultural emissions research and programmes with small and medium sized enterprises and local government.

Co-ordinate cross-government development of further policy on agriculture and forestry, transport, emissions trading, adaptation and public awareness.

As good global citizens, we are contributing to global actions to avert the effects of climate change and to protect New Zealand's interests and to prepare for any adverse impacts.

We need to ensure that low-cost emission reductions are secured early thereby minimising the risks and costs of greenhouse gas emission growth.

Develop and maintain New Zealand's greenhouse gas, and carbon stocks accounting and reporting systems, and meet our international reporting requirements.

New Zealand has commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. The work will enhance our ability to track and manage our emissions, comply with our international reporting obligations and maximise any benefits from trading on the international carbon market.

Link domestic policy to inform the on-going New Zealand negotiating position internationally.

We want to maximise the potential benefits to the economy through the value of carbon abatement and sequestration and minimise risks and liabilities to the Crown.

• Continued progress, as measured through the national greenhouse gas inventory, is made towards a long term downward trend in greenhouse gas emissions.
• New Zealand's inventory of greenhouse gases and carbon stocks and carbon accounting systems meet international reporting requirements and deadlines.
• A minimum of 10 Negotiated Greenhouse Agreements are negotiated and signed.
• Emission units are successfully allocated through the third round of the Projects to Reduce Emissions.
• 50% of the New Zealand population is represented through local government membership of the Communities for Climate Change Protection.
• New Zealand's position post 2012 is developed recognising domestic and international developments.

With key stakeholders develop a process for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of policies, plans, processes and decisions related to environmental statutes, in particular the Resource Management Act and national environmental policies, accords and agreements.

To achieve a healthy environment we need effective policies, legislation and governance. We need to monitor and review the implementation and effectiveness of these to ensure acceptable progress toward the intended environmental outcomes is being made.

Assist Ministers with their statutory functions under environmental laws and ministerial responsibilities.

The Minister for the Environment has responsibilities under the Resource Management Act and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. The Ministry provides advice and support to the Minister in carrying out these responsibilities.

Work with local government, industry and other agencies to make progress towards the targets of the New Zealand Waste Strategy, especially through waste management planning, hazardous waste management, and beneficial use of biosolids.

Both the New Zealand Waste Strategy and The Local Government Act 2002 promote the use of integrated planning to address the issues of waste on a local and regional scale.

Develop the environmental legislation framework to cover significant gaps, including oceans management and product stewardship.

The oceans within New Zealand's jurisdiction need an integrated and consistent management regime.

Product Stewardship legislation will provide the potential for regulations where there is a specific need to reduce resource use and waste.

Improve the effectiveness of environmental legislation, including the Resource Management Act and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.

We are seeking to deliver legislative and non-legislative improvements for the RMA that focus on quality of decisions and processes while not compromising good environmental outcomes or public participation.

We want to ensure a good environment for New Zealanders through sound management of risks related to hazardous substances and new organisms while ensuring minimal compliance costs.

Increase the effectiveness of Maori participation in the management and use of our natural resources.

More effective participation by Maori in the management and use of natural resources will ensure improved environmental outcomes and management of natural resources.

Support the Bioethics Council in its role to conduct dialogue with New Zealanders on the cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions of biotechnology.

Developments in biotechnology should have regard to the values of New Zealanders.

Develop a national policy statement on indigenous biodiversity.

The Government wants to provide national direction on the protection of ecosystems that are most vulnerable to extinction of species.

Support the implementation of environmental legislation, particularly the Aquaculture Reforms.

In December 2004 the Aquaculture Amendment Bill reformed the way we plan for and allocate space to aquaculture in New Zealand. This places increased emphasis on regional councils to plan for aquaculture development in their regions.

• Cases are heard by the Environment Court within six months of the appeal being lodged.
• Business surveys no longer identify the RMA as being a stumbling block to sustainable development.
• The number of accidents involving hazardous substances and new organisms, as tracked by the Environmental Risk Management Authority, steadily declines.
• The biennial RMA survey shows a steady improvement in council practices.
• The majority of the members of a hearings body have been trained through the Making Good Decisions programme.
• Usage of the Quality Planning website to share good practice continues to grow.

Strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders.

The Ministry wants to be seen as a trusted, respected, effective organisation that other organisations want to work with to achieve a common goal.

Operate robust, future-proof and practical systems and structures.

These systems enable the Ministry to operate efficiently in the delivery of its work programmes.

Attract, develop and retain the right combination of people for the Ministry.

Having skilled, staff who want to work at the Ministry will allow us to provide high quality advice and service.

Monitor the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA).

We assist Ministers to ensure good governance in the delivery of their services as required under the Public Finance Act 1989, Crown Entities Act 2004, the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (for ERMA), and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000 (for EECA).

• The provision of advice and delivery of services meets the reasonable expectations of our Ministers and the Government.
• Feedback gained through stakeholder liaison meetings is positive.
• Climate survey results show that Ministry staff feel positively about working at the Ministry.
• External audit reports confirm that our systems are robust and policies are clear and effective.
• External reviews will highlight the Ministry as having elements of best practice.