Decision
The Government has decided to phase out certain hard-to-recycle plastics and six single-use items.
Read about the plastic items being phased out
The decision follows widespread public support
The Government consulted the public on its plastic phase-out...More
Climate change is a global problem that is having significant impacts on the environment, people and economies across the world. To limit the most harmful impacts of climate change, all countries need to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
New Zealand is committed to...More
Decision
The Government has reached decisions regarding regulation updates to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (SGG) Levy.
The decisions made are to:
update unit limit and auction price control settings for 2022-2026 (for details...More
The NZ ETS is an important tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Read our proposal on designing a governance framework for the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme [PDF 1.4MB]
We need to improve the current market governance framework to manage risks of...More
About industial allocation
Industrial allocation is the provision of free emissions units (NZUs) to industries considered emissions-intensive and trade-exposed (EITE). Its purpose is to reduce the risk of emissions pricing driving EITE firms, and their production and associated...More
The Government is proposing changes to the intensive winter grazing regulations. These are included within the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Freshwater) Regulations 2020 (NES-F).
We have received feedback that aspects of the intensive winter grazing regulations...More
Freshwater farm plans were introduced as part of the Government’s Essential Freshwater package. They are intended to provide a practical way for farmers to meet the freshwater standards and to reduce regulatory burden.
Why we consulted
We sought feedback on the implementation and...More
Wetlands play an important role in maintaining the health of New Zealand’s waters. But New Zealand’s wetlands are at risk. Ninety per cent of wetlands have been lost since human settlement began and there is ongoing degradation and loss. The Government is committed to preserving the...More
What we consulted on
Read a snapshot of the emissions reduction plan discussion document [PDF, 1,863 KB]
The consultation closed on 24 November 2021.
More
What we consulted on
Read the discussion document for this consultation [PDF, 7,401 KB]
View webinars on the Ministry for the Environment website
The consultation closed on 24 November 2021
More
Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the highest generators of waste per person in the world. We use too much, waste too much and pollute too much – and this has negative impacts on the environment and contributes to climate change.
Around the world, we use more resources than the planet...More
Every year around 6.5 million tyres are imported into New Zealand. When they reach their end of use, about two-thirds go to landfill or are illegally dumped. This creates the risk of fire and toxic emissions.
In 2020, an estimated 1,000 electric vehicle batteries reached their end of...More
Everyone should have access to safe drinking water. We are considering changes to the National Environmental Standards for Sources of Human Drinking Water (NES-DW) to better protect our sources of drinking water.
The Government consulted on three proposals to strengthen the NES-DW:
...More
The Environmental Reporting Act 2015 (ERA) provides the framework for independent, structured and regular reports on the state of New Zealand’s environment. This helps us understand how our environment is tracking and the impacts of our activities over time, which is vital for good...More
Decision
The Government has reached decisions regarding regulation updates to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (SGG) Levy.
Climate Change (Unit Register) Regulations 2008 will be updated. Regulation 11D will be repealed to remove an...More
Healthy whenua (land) is important for a flourishing environment and people’s wellbeing.
That’s because how we use, manage and care for whenua affects our water, climate, air and native species, as well as people's quality of life. But how might our land – and New Zealanders’...More
Too much rubbish is ending up in landfills and our environment.
We sought views on proposals to transform recycling in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The consultation closed on 22 May 2022.
The three proposals are:
A container return scheme that encourages people to return...More
Too much rubbish is ending up in landfills and our environment.
We sought your views on three proposals:
A container return scheme that encourages people to return their empty beverage containers for recycling
Improvements to household kerbside recycling
...More
All New Zealanders can adapt to the locked-in effects of climate change. The sooner we act, the more effective that action will be.
We sought your feedback on the plan. It’s been put together so we can minimise the damage from a changing climate. We asked about how climate change is...More
We consulted on proposed amendments to wetland provisions in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) and the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-F) from 1 September to 27 October 2021.
Following consultation, we analysed submissions...More
Many of our plants, birds and animals are unique to our country. Some of these, along with their ecosystems, are under threat of extinction.
From November 2019 to March 2020, we sought public feedback on the introduction of a National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) to...More
Our wetlands in the coastal marine area are the interface of freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Why we are consulting
The original policy intent of the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards) for Freshwater (NES-F) was to restrict activities likely to cause the loss or...More
Unit settings are updated annually to ensure the NZ ETS remains an effective tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
We sought feedback on the impacts of proposed changes, including the Climate Change Commission's recommendations, on price controls and unit settings for New Zealand...More
Land is a taonga. It is intrinsically linked to the health of the wider environment and to people’s lives and livelihoods. For many years Aotearoa New Zealand’s land has been under pressure. If current trends continue, pressures on our land could increase – affecting both its health and the...More
Update
Read the report under section 215 of the Climate Change Response Act 2002 [PDF, 905 KB]
The Climate Change and Agriculture Ministers published a report on the Government’s proposed system, a legislated requirement of the Climate Change Response Act (CCRA).
The report...More
Fluorinated gases (F-gases) contribute significantly to global warming. This is because they are potent greenhouse gases, with global warming potential hundreds or thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide.
F-gas refrigerants are found in a range of products such as heat pumps,...More
The Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2013 set hourly charge-out rates for certain functions and services. The current charge-out rates have not been revised since 2013 and are not recovering costs.
We are proposing increases to those...More
Councils can issue ‘instant fines’ for breaches of environmental rules under the Resource Management Act that do not justify prosecution in court.
The current infringement notice fines were set in 1999. They are now too low to discourage non-compliance with plan rules or consent...More
The Government engaged with stakeholders about its proposals to improve governance of the market for New Zealand Units (NZU).
This engagement sought feedback on the impact of treating NZUs as financial products, the leveraging of existing financial market legislation, and on alternative...More
This Inquiry will look at past and existing land-uses. It will investigate:
storm damage and its causes
current practices
regulatory and policy settings.
It will include the impact of storm damage caused by woody debris (including forestry slash) and sediment on...More
