Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Govt proposes new Environmental Reporting Act

Hon Dr Nick Smith
Minister for the Environment
18 August 2011

Govt proposes new Environmental Reporting Act

Environment Minister Nick Smith today released a discussion document, Measuring Up, seeking public feedback on a proposal for a new Environmental Reporting Act.

“We need to strengthen the integrity of New Zealand’s clean, green brand by requiring independent and nationally consistent reporting on the state of our environment,” Dr Smith said at an event in Wellington to mark the 25th anniversary of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

"We are the only OECD country not required by law to produce independent state of the environment reports, yet we more than any depend on our natural environment for so much of our wealth and economic success.

“We are proposing to make the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment responsible for independently reporting on the state of the environment every five years. It will report on important issues like water quality, air quality, coast and oceans management, waste and our native plants and animals. The proposals include amendments to the RMA to improve the consistency of environmental monitoring across regions for national reporting. This would enable the PCE to rank our lakes and rivers from the cleanest to the dirtiest and identify which are improving and which are deteriorating.

“This reform was recommended by the Land and Water Forum as part of improving New Zealand’s fresh water management. Some regional councils monitor problem areas; others do on the basis of recreational usage or on a representative basis. This inconsistency enables some to minimise the problem and others to exaggerate them. Clear environmental reports will avoid wasting energy in a debate over data and help focus everyone on addressing the problem.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“This reform is part of the Government’s bluegreen agenda to improve New Zealand’s environmental institutions. Our first step was restructuring the Environment Ministry to bolster its policy capability. The second step was creating the Environmental Protection Authority. This third step is to strengthen the audit functions of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

“This discussion document on the proposed Environmental Reporting Act is the public’s chance to have a say on what a national-level environmental monitoring and reporting system for New Zealand should look like.”

Measuring Up: Environmental Reporting – A Discussion Document is available at: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/measuring-up-environmental-reporting/index.html

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.