New Zealand Population 4.17 million Growth Rate 0.971% Land Area 268,680 sq km Annual GDP $128.1 billion The CIA World Factbook 2008

Resource Management Act Adopted in 1991 following four years of research, discussion, and drafting Largest law reform process in national history 20 major statutes and 50 other environmental laws were replaced

Adopted in 1991 following four years of research, discussion, and drafting

Largest law reform process in national history

20 major statutes and 50 other environmental laws were replaced

Purpose “To promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources” (RMA, pg. 6)

“To promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources” (RMA, pg. 6)

Vision “ A clean, healthy and unique environment, sustaining nature and people’s needs and aspirations.”

“ A clean, healthy and unique environment, sustaining nature and people’s needs and aspirations.”

Principles Sustainable development Environmentally-harmful activities should be avoided or mitigated Social and economic benefits will not outweigh environmental consequences in a cost-benefit analysis Environmental stewardship

Sustainable development

Environmentally-harmful activities should be avoided or mitigated

Social and economic benefits will not outweigh environmental consequences in a cost-benefit analysis

Environmental stewardship

Additional Principles Polluter pays Finite characteristics of resources Need for trout and salmon protection Humans impact climate change Support for renewable energy Support for improved energy efficiency Preservation of cultural and historical heritage

Polluter pays

Finite characteristics of resources

Need for trout and salmon protection

Humans impact climate change

Support for renewable energy

Support for improved energy efficiency

Preservation of cultural and historical heritage

Comprehensive 1. of large scope; covering or involving much; inclusive 2. comprehending mentally; having an extensive mental range or grasp.

Challenges Deforestation Loss of wetlands Soil erosion Invasive species Air pollution Climate change Water shortages

Deforestation

Loss of wetlands

Soil erosion

Invasive species

Air pollution

Climate change

Water shortages

Sea-level on the rise, time to plan for it Tuesday, 29 July 2008, 11:19 am Hon David Parker, Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues “ Climate change effects are gradual, but many land-use planning decisions have long-term implications because of the longer-life of infrastructure such as buildings or roads. As a result it is not only wise to consider climate change implications in coastal planning, it is a requirement under the Resource Management Act.”

Sea-level on the rise, time to plan for it

Tuesday, 29 July 2008, 11:19 am

Hon David Parker, Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues

“ Climate change effects are gradual, but many land-use planning decisions have long-term implications because of the longer-life of infrastructure such as buildings or roads. As a result it is not only wise to consider climate change implications in coastal planning, it is a requirement under the Resource Management Act.”

Indicators Monitored by the Ministry for the Environment Air quality Greenhouse gas emissions and stratospheric ozone Freshwater quality and allocation Land cover and land use Indigenous biodiversity Energy demand

Monitored by the Ministry for the Environment

Air quality

Greenhouse gas emissions and stratospheric ozone

Freshwater quality and allocation

Land cover and land use

Indigenous biodiversity

Energy demand

Indicators

Additional Indicators Economic Indicators Social Health Indicators

Systemic of or pertaining to a system. Physiology, Pathology. (a) pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole. (b) pertaining to or affecting a particular body system.

of or pertaining to a system.

Physiology, Pathology.

(a) pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole. (b) pertaining to or affecting a particular body system.

Devolution Implementation has been largely devolved to regional councils and to district and city councils.

Implementation has been largely devolved to regional councils and to district and city councils.

Devolution

Policy Instruments New Zealand Green Plan Implementation Resource Consent Environmental Standards National Policy Statements Regional And District Plans Regional Policy Statements

Policy Instruments

Devolution

Regional Councils There are 12 regional councils. Responsibilities include: Managing the use of surface water and groundwater Discharge of contaminants onto land or into the air or water Effects of activities in coastal marine area Invasive species in water bodies Biodiversity Soil conservation Water quality/quantity Infrastructure as it relates to land use planning

There are 12 regional councils.

Responsibilities include:

Managing the use of surface water and groundwater

Discharge of contaminants onto land or into the air or water

Effects of activities in coastal marine area

Invasive species in water bodies

Biodiversity

Soil conservation

Water quality/quantity

Infrastructure as it relates to land use planning

Regional Councils

Regional Policy Statements Statements must establish “a directional framework” for handling natural resource issues specific to that region. Statements must be reviewed within 10 years of implementation.

Statements must establish “a directional framework” for handling natural resource issues specific to that region.

Statements must be reviewed within 10 years of implementation.

District and City Councils There are 73 district and city councils. District councils are responsible for: Managing the effects of land-use Handling noise pollution Mitigating the effects of various activities on lakes and rivers

There are 73 district and city councils.

District councils are responsible for:

Managing the effects of land-use

Handling noise pollution

Mitigating the effects of various activities on lakes and rivers

District and City Councils

Regional and District Plans Plans are prepared to directly address issue-specific environmental problems that arise. Plans include detailed objectives, policies, and rules to mitigate the issue. Combined plans may be created to address cross-boundary issues. Plans are revised every 10 years.

Plans are prepared to directly address issue-specific environmental problems that arise.

Plans include detailed objectives, policies, and rules to mitigate the issue.

Combined plans may be created to address cross-boundary issues.

Plans are revised every 10 years.

Regional and District Plans Regional and district councils are encouraged to consider alternatives to regulation whenever possible. Ex. Grants for home improvement

Regional and district councils are encouraged to consider alternatives to regulation whenever possible.

Ex. Grants for home improvement

Resource Consent This process is used to grant permission for any activity that has an impact on the environment or any activity prohibited under existing law. Resource consents are granted by consent authorities including regional, district and city councils, and the Department of Conservation.

This process is used to grant permission for any activity that has an impact on the environment or any activity prohibited under existing law.

Resource consents are granted by consent authorities including regional, district and city councils, and the Department of Conservation.

Resource Consent

Resource Consent 55,000 resource consents were processed between 2003 and 2004. Applications for resource consent require an assessment of environmental impact and in some cases a written approval from affected parties.

55,000 resource consents were processed between 2003 and 2004.

Applications for resource consent require an assessment of environmental impact and in some cases a written approval from affected parties.

Resource Consent

Resource Consent

Resource Consent After resource consent is granted, regional and district councils have the power to issue abatement notices.

After resource consent is granted, regional and district councils have the power to issue abatement notices.

Resource Consent

National Policy Statements Minister of Conservation is required to make policy statements to direct activities in the coastal marine area. As necessary, the Minister for the Environment may also prepare policy statements on “matters of national significance” related to natural resources.

Minister of Conservation is required to make policy statements to direct activities in the coastal marine area.

As necessary, the Minister for the Environment may also prepare policy statements on “matters of national significance” related to natural resources.

National Environmental Standards The Minister of Conservation prepares standards that serve as regulations to guide resource consent. Standards: Air quality Drinking water quality

The Minister of Conservation prepares standards that serve as regulations to guide resource consent.

Standards:

Air quality

Drinking water quality

Source: WEF (2005), Global Competitiveness Report 2004/2005. Overall Infrastructure Quality

Accountable 1. subject to the obligation to report, explain, or justify something; responsible; answerable. 2. capable of being explained; explicable; explainable.

Environment Court The Environment Court has the following powers: Direct councils to change plans or policy statements Confirm, amend, or cancel resource consents Change abatement notices Make or decline declarations or enforcement orders Award payments or issue fines

The Environment Court has the following powers:

Direct councils to change plans or policy statements

Confirm, amend, or cancel resource consents

Change abatement notices

Make or decline declarations or enforcement orders

Award payments or issue fines

Environment Court Violation of any part of the Resource Management Act if an offense punishable with imprisonment for up to two years or a fine not exceeding $200,000. Decisions made in the Environment Court may be appealed to the High Court.

Violation of any part of the Resource Management Act if an offense punishable with imprisonment for up to two years or a fine not exceeding $200,000.

Decisions made in the Environment Court may be appealed to the High Court.

Integrative 1. to bring together or incorporate (parts) into a whole. 2. to make up, combine, or complete to produce a whole or a larger unit, as parts do. 3. to unite or combine.

Community Involvement Based on the following principles: That decisions on environmental matters are most appropriately made by the communities directly affected by those decisions; That community participation is vital to effective resource management.

Based on the following principles:

That decisions on environmental matters are most appropriately made by the communities directly affected by those decisions;

That community participation is vital to effective resource management.

Community Involvement Citizens, interest groups, and business leaders can participate in the regional and district plan preparation process by making a written submission.

Citizens, interest groups, and business leaders can participate in the regional and district plan preparation process by making a written submission.

Community Involvement

Govt 3 Program Led by the Ministry for the Environment's Sustainable Industry Group, government agencies work together to share ideas and information in hopes of strengthening central government while increasing sustainability.

Led by the Ministry for the Environment's Sustainable Industry Group, government agencies work together to share ideas and information in hopes of strengthening central government while increasing sustainability.

Govt 3 Program

Consumer Education

Business Education

Review In 2004, the Minister of the Environment began a review of the Resource Management Act. For 18 months, the Ministry consulted with local government, industry, environmental organizations, and the community to ensure that all opinions were represented in the review.

In 2004, the Minister of the Environment began a review of the Resource Management Act.

For 18 months, the Ministry consulted with local government, industry, environmental organizations, and the community to ensure that all opinions were represented in the review.

Review

Speech to Local Government New Zealand Conference Monday, 28 July 2008, 4:16 pm John Key MP, National Party Leader “ We will simplify and streamline processes around the Resource Management Act . We are also aware of the significant issues you face administering the Building Act, and we will work with you to resolve those. I can assure you that National will be talking in more detail about these issues closer to the election. “

Speech to Local Government New Zealand Conference

Monday, 28 July 2008, 4:16 pm John Key MP, National Party Leader

“ We will simplify and streamline processes around the Resource Management Act . We are also aware of the significant issues you face administering the Building Act, and we will work with you to resolve those. I can assure you that National will be talking in more detail about these issues closer to the election. “