Wagner Nicky: Environmental Protection Authority Bill — First Reading 
Wagner Nicky: Environmental Protection Authority Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:669;Page:15709] 
NICKY WAGNER (National) 
: 
 I rise to support the Environmental Protection Authority Bill 2010. The Environmental Protection Authority is designed to provide the country with strong and independent environmental oversight—strong and independent. Despite Mr Chauvel’s protests the concept has wide acceptance across the House and by environmental groups. I would like to quote from the Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand which said: “The Government decision to establish an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fully fledged is welcomed.” 
It is interesting to see that the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is also positive about the Environmental Protection Authority. She said: “I’m pleased to see the EPA will be a stand-alone entity as that will ensure its work is not only independent but that it is seen to be independent. I’m also encouraged to see that the new EPA will have a high level of technical capability.” That was said by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright. 
This bill is very significant because it allows the Government to provide stronger central government leadership on environmental issues. New Zealand is known overseas for its beautiful natural environment and we need to make sure we deliver on our international reputation as a clean green country. We must improve on the environmental outcomes we inherited from 9 years of the previous Labour Government. Our environmental practices must reflect our reputation and our “100% Pure New Zealand” brand. 
The establishment of the Environmental Protection Authority was part of National’s election promises and it is part of our plan for better environmental outcomes. It underpins our blue-green vision of protecting the environment while growing the economy. The two must go hand in hand. New Zealanders are closely connected to their local environments but the existing legislative framework is too decentralised and some issues are often relitigated across our local authorities. We want to use our personal energy and resources to conserve and to enhance the environment rather than to continually relitigate the same old issues in different places. There is a lot of support for the fact that it is more efficient and effective for a small country of just over 4 million people to regulate some environmental issues nationally. 
This bill is an omnibus bill. It amends several environmental Acts and establishes the new Environmental Protection Authority as a Crown agent under the Crown Entities Act 2004. It requires the Environmental Protection Authority to advise the Minister and exercise powers conferred on it by the Climate Change Response Act 2002 the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and the Resource Management Act 1991. The bill is designed to give greater clarity to environmental functions. The Government’s reforms are about the Ministry for the Environment being focused on policy the Environmental Protection Authority being focused on administrating regulations and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment being an overall systems auditor. That seems to us to be a pretty good pattern and a pretty good template. 
The Environmental Protection Authority will also bring together under one entity regulatory functions concerning the environment that are presently split between the Ministry for the Environment the Ministry of Economic Development the Environmental Risk Management Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It will ensure that regulatory functions are independent from Ministers. The Government believes that functions such as national consenting and the administration of the emissions trading scheme should be at arm’s length from the Government and in an independent Crown entity. 
The Environmental Protection Authority is to undertake its functions in a way that contributes to the efficient effective and transparent management of the New Zealand environment and its natural and physical resources and enables New Zealand to meet its international obligations. Combining technical and regulatory skills in one body will lead to better-informed environmental decisions and greater protection for our natural resources. The bill brings together a wide range of regulatory functions and provides stronger national direction to the environmental roles of the regional and district councils. The bill also provides for Maori advisory committees to provide advice and assistance to the Environmental Protection Authority on policy matters processes and decisions. 
The Environmental Protection Authority will administer the emissions trading scheme and take over the responsibilities of the Environmental Risk Management Authority under the Hazardous Substance and New Organisms Act 1996. The new Environmental Protection Authority will also take over the functions of the temporary Environmental Protection Authority which was established under the amended Resource Management Act last year. There is also potential for further growth of the Environmental Protection Authority where other appropriate functions could be transferred to it. 
The establishment of a stand-alone Environmental Protection Authority is positive for our environment and for our natural resources. It will be a strong independent regulatory authority and it will ensure the protection of our environment at a national level. I support this bill and commend it to the House.