Table 1: Ministry for the Environment’s national direction priorities for 2017/18 Topic Indicative date of completion Description For more information see the following web pages Telecommunication facilities (amendments) Came into effect on 1 January 2017 Changes to bring the existing national environmental standards up to date with current technology and to expand permitted activities outside the road reserve. Urban development capacity Came into effect on 1 December 2016 Requirements for councils to provide sufficient capacity for urban development to meet demand for housing and business needs. Plantation forestry Early 2017 Nationally consistent rules to manage plantation forestry with more efficiency and certainty, and maintain or improve environmental outcomes. Freshwater management (proposed amendments to the National Policy Statement) Cabinet decisions on proposal due soon Potential amendments to clarify how existing policies are to be applied. Stock exclusion from water bodies Cabinet decisions on proposal due soon A nationally-consistent approach to exclude stock from water ways, starting with dairy cattle and pigs and ultimately applying to beef cattle and deer. Drinking water Late 2018 Review the existing national environmental standards and guide to assess effectiveness and any requirement for updating and amending. Pest control New regulations come into force on 1 April 2017 Simplifying the regulatory regime for certain toxins used to manage pest mammals and fish by removing duplication between the RMA and other legislation, including the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Aquaculture Consultation on National Environmental Standard Nationally-consistent and efficient approach for existing marine farms to obtain replacement consents, and strengthen biosecurity management nationally. Air (amendments to the National Environmental Standard) Late 2017 Updating the provisions relating to particulate matter to reflect the costs of compliance and current science on health impacts. Contaminants in soil (amendments to the National Environmental Standard) Mid-2017 Changes to make the existing national environmental standard more targeted toward risks from contaminants.
Key statutes Resource Management Act 1991 National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 Other government agencies with substantial role Ministry for Primary Industries Department of Conservation Department of Internal Affairs Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment Te Puni Kōkiri Condition and fitness for purpose Effectiveness Efficiency Durability and Resilience Fair and Accountable To what extent does the system deliver the intended outcomes and impacts? To what extent does the system minimise the unintended consequences and undue costs and burdens? How well does the system cope with variation, change and pressures? How well does the system respect rights and deliver good process? The system has demonstrated significant impact on regional plans. However, given the legal and environmental timeframes involved, environmental outcomes will not be clear for many years. Financial and human resourcing in the regulated community has also been identified as a barrier to delivering the intended outcomes. These issues will need continued attention in the future. Councils, iwi and stakeholders report significant costs and resource burdens associated with NPS-FM implementation. Most are adapting their response to the NPS-FM to manage within the constraints. MfE and MPI assess the operating environment, and proactively make necessary changes; however, the of change in national direction has outpaced the ability of councils and the community to address new requirements. The regulated community believes that current RMA processes are inflexible and This impacts on the durability and resilience of the system overall. Councils and sectors report that the inflexibility prevents more innovative or alternative means to achieve outcomes. The system includes a framework process, and some values that must be considered. It leaves regions to determine their own values and objectives and the actions necessary to achieve those objectives. The regulated community has reported resource constraints which may impede full compliance with statutory obligations. Some iwi and stakeholders have expressed concerns about the level of engagement. MfE and MPI work closely with the regulated community to manage such however, there are no clear ways to resolve resource limitations. consuming.
opportunities for more efficient, integrated marine management. Planned activity for 2017–18 A priority for MfE is to support New Zealand to be a leader in the sustainable use and management of its marine environment. This work includes: reviewing the current regulatory regime and taking a holistic, integrated approach to the system’s future development based on systems thinking and long-term outcomes improving evidence, data and information to improve Environmental Reporting supporting the Government to progress proposed marine protection legislation and recreational fishing parks in the Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds. Supporting passage of the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary legislation administering the EEZ Act, developing regulations for decommissioning of offshore petroleum facilities under the Act, and updating the permitted activity regulations developing national direction on aquaculture under the RMA along with other Natural Resource Sector agencies, support the DoC New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) Effectiveness Review. System – Hazardous Substances and New Organisms System description The HSNO Act aims to prevent or manage the adverse effects of hazardous substances and new organisms, including genetically modified organisms within New Zealand. This is a complex system to administer, with MfE responsible for the Act and regulations, the EPA is responsible for enforcement and engagement. The Ministry for Primary Industries, WorkSafe New Zealand, Institutional Biological Safety Committees, and local government also play roles in implementation. The HSNO system was designed to make environmental and human protection paramount, with the benefits of using hazardous substances one of the factors that can be considered in order to achieve the purpose of the Act. The purpose of HSNO is to protect the environment, and the health and safety of people and communities, by preventing or managing the adverse effects of HS and NO. The HSNO regulatory system establishes a consistent process for assessing the risks posed by HS and NO. It also sets national controls to manage their environmental effects and risks. Portfolio Environment Key statutes Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Other government agencies with substantial role Environmental Protection Authority WorkSafe (hazardous substances in workplaces) Local government (hazardous substances outside the workplace (mainly territorial authorities) MPI (new organisms)