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41 results

  • Proposed National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision-making

    The Government sought feedback on a proposed National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision-making. This is a first step from central government to provide additional support for local government to manage risks to people and property from natural hazards such as floods, landslides and coastal inundation. Read the full consultation document [PDF, 2.6 MB] Read the Proposed National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision-making 2023 . Read the Proposed National... More
    Closed 20 November 2023

  • Helping nature and people thrive – Exploring a biodiversity credit system for Aotearoa New Zealand

    The Government is exploring whether a biodiversity credit system could help to incentivise the protection and restoration of native wildlife in Aotearoa New Zealand. A biodiversity credit system would help to conserve habitats and species by enabling landowners, who protect and restore native wildlife, to earn credits for their actions. The Ministry for the Environment and Department of Conservation (DoC) sought feedback on the need for and the design of a biodiversity credit... More
    Closed 3 November 2023

  • Managing the use and development of highly productive land - Te whakahaere i te whakamahinga me te whanaketanga o ngā whenua whai hua

    The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) sought feedback on managing the use and development of highly productive land (HPL). Since the policy was introduced in 2022, two issues have been raised about its restrictions on the use and development of highly productive land for activities that don’t rely on soil. The two issues that were consulted on are a lack of a clear consent pathway for: Construction of new specified... More
    Closed 31 October 2023

  • Deferral of NZ ETS reporting obligations for animals–farmer activities

    NZ ETS date deferred for animal farmers The Government has deferred the date animal farmers must meet NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) obligations from 1 January 2024 to 1 January 2026. This gives the Government more time to legislate and implement a farm-level split-gas agricultural emissions levy system. The deferral follows Cabinet’s August 2023 decision to progress work to ensure mandatory reporting of agricultural emissions by late 2024 and pricing of them a... More
    Closed 6 September 2023

  • Improving our GMO regulations for laboratory and biomedical research

    The Government sought feedback on proposed changes to Aotearoa New Zealand’s legislation and regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) used in laboratory settings and for biomedical therapies. The proposals respond to concerns from the research community that current GMO regulations are hindering research and innovation. They aim to remove barriers to foster research and improve health outcomes. The consultation document presents 10 policy changes to: ... More
    Closed 25 August 2023

  • A redesigned NZ ETS Permanent Forest Category

    The Government sought feedback on proposals to manage afforestation by redesigning the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme’s (NZ ETS) permanent forest category. Last year the Government consulted on proposals to restrict permanent exotic forests in the New Zealand ETS in response to concerns about the impacts on the environment and rural communities from these forests. The proposals generated wide interest prompting the Government to further investigate changes to the permanent forest... More
    Closed 11 August 2023

  • Te Arotake Mahere Hokohoko Tukunga - Review of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme

    The Government is reviewing the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) to make sure it’s fit for the job ahead. The review will focus on the benefits, trade-offs and risks of changing the NZ ETS so it can incentivise gross emissions reductions, but continue to support removals. It follows advice from He Pou a Rangi | Climate Change Commission. It recommended that the Government consider amending the NZ ETS to provide more robust support for gross emissions reductions... More
    Closed 11 August 2023

  • Quick submission - Te Arotake Mahere Hokohoko Tukunga - Review of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme

    The Government is reviewing the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) to make sure it’s fit for the job ahead. The review will focus on the benefits, trade-offs and risks of changing the NZ ETS so it can incentivise gross emissions reductions, but continue to support removals. It follows advice from He Pou a Rangi | Climate Change Commission. It recommended that the Government consider amending the NZ ETS to provide more robust support for gross emissions reductions... More
    Closed 11 August 2023

  • Developing an exception from the low slope map for lower intensity farming - Te whakarite aweretanga mai i te mahere rōnaki heke mō te mahi pāmu ngāwari

    We sought feedback on options to amend stock exclusion regulations in relation to lower intensity farming systems. The low slope map, incorporated by reference in the stock exclusion regulations, was amended in 2022 to improve how it identifies low slope land and avoid capturing lower intensity farming in the high country. While these recent changes have largely addressed issues with low slope land identification, the map is still likely to capture some lower intensity farming... More
    Closed 16 July 2023

  • Annual updates to the NZ ETS limits and price control settings for units 2023

    The NZ ETS is a key tool in the government’s climate change response toolbox. It supports Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its emissions reduction goals by putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions. Unit settings are updated annually to ensure the NZ ETS remains an effective tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This consultation is on annual updates to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) unit settings for the period 2024–28. This is the third year that these... More
    Closed 16 June 2023

  • Ministerial Inquiry Land Use

    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 communities, livestock, buildings, and the environment. It will also look at associated economic drivers and constraints. More
    Closed 6 April 2023

  • Review of the Resource Management (Infringement Offences) Regulations 1999

    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 conditions. This puts our environment at risk and is unfair to those New Zealanders who use our natural resources sustainably and within the law. We consulted on proposed options for changing the... More
    Closed 31 March 2023

  • Improving market governance of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme

    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 market governance proposals considered as part of the policy design phase. Read the consultation document [PDF, 2.4 MB] Proposed changes included: Using existing financial... More
    Closed 27 February 2023

  • Proposed changes to the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2013

    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 charge-out rates. The main parties affected are people and companies who: intend to apply for, or already have, marine consents under the EEZ Act undertake or intend to undertake... More
    Closed 20 January 2023

  • Proposed measures to reduce the environmental impact of fluorinated gases

    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, dehumidifiers, vehicles, fridges and freezers. We sought feedback on proposed measures to reduce the environmental impact of fluorinated gases (F-gases). This included: a regulated product... More
    Closed 18 December 2022

  • Pricing agricultural emissions

    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 outlines a system to put a price on emissions from agricultural activities as an alternative to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme. The proposed pricing system is based on the farm-level... More
    Closed 18 November 2022

  • Where to from here? How we ensure the future wellbeing of land and people

    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 wellbeing of future generations. We asked for your input into our Long-term Insights Briefing on how we ensure the future wellbeing of our land and people. Read a short summary of the... More
    Closed 18 October 2022

  • Proposed changes to NZ ETS limit and price control settings for units for 2022

    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 Units. Read the consultation document [PDF, 812 KB] Webinars We hosted two webinars where participants had an opportunity to hear more about the proposals and ask questions. ... More
    Closed 6 October 2022

  • Managing our wetlands in the coastal marine area

    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 degradation of all natural wetlands including those in the coastal marine area. However, many councils and stakeholders initially interpreted the NES-F as applying only to natural inland... More
    Closed 21 September 2022

  • Draft National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity — Exposure draft

    The National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) is in force from 4 August 2023. Find out about the NPSIB As part of the development, from November 2019 to March 2020, we sought public feedback on the introduction of a National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) to help protect precious flora and fauna. We received over 7000 submissions. The majority supported the intent of the NPSIB. In this consultation we sought feedback from... More
    Closed 21 July 2022

  • Exposure draft of proposed changes to the NPS-FM and NES-F (including wetland regulations)

    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 and prepared a report summarising submissions and providing advice and recommendations to the Minister. Decisions made on the basis of that report enabled drafting of proposed amendments to wetland... More
    Closed 10 July 2022

  • Adapt and thrive: Building a climate-resilient Aotearoa New Zealand

    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 affecting you, potential impacts you are concerned about, actions you are taking and what other actions are needed. Read the summary document [PDF, 1.4 MB] Read the consultation... More
    Closed 3 June 2022

  • Quick submission - Transforming recycling

    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 Separation of food scraps from general waste for all businesses Read the full consultation document [PDF, 3MB] More
    Closed 22 May 2022

  • Detailed submission - Transforming recycling

    Too much rubbish is ending up in landfills and our environment. We sought views on proposals to transform recycling in Aotearoa New Zealand. The three proposals were: A container return scheme that encourages people to return their empty beverage containers for recycling [PDF, 1.4MB] Improvements to household kerbside recycling [PDF, 891KB] Separation of food scraps from general waste for all businesses [PDF, 865KB] Read the full consultation... More
    Closed 22 May 2022

  • People and place: ensuring the wellbeing of every generation

    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’ relationship with it – change over the coming decades? What could they look like in 2050? The Ministry’s Long-term Insights Briefing project delves into this important topic, and looks at the risks,... More
    Closed 20 May 2022

  • Proposed changes to regulations for the NZ ETS 2022

    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 accounting transaction which relates to voluntary emissions offsetting activity during the Kyoto Protocol commitment periods (2008–12 and 2013–20 inclusive). Climate Change (Other Removal... More
    Closed 28 April 2022

  • Improving Aotearoa New Zealand's environmental reporting system

    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 decision-making. While the ERA has made positive changes to the way we report on the environment, we need to extend its functionality and breadth so environmental reports have more impact. The... More
    Closed 18 March 2022

  • Improving the protection of drinking-water sources

    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: standardising the way we define source water areas strengthening regulation of activities around water sources including more water suppliers under the NES-DW. This consultation... More
    Closed 6 March 2022

  • Proposed product stewardship regulations: Tyres and large batteries

    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 use. By 2030 that number could reach 84,000 each year. Mis-managed large batteries also pose risk of fire. If they end up in the landfill or the environment, toxins such as heavy metals are released.... More
    Closed 16 December 2021

  • Taking responsibility for our waste

    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 can sustain. The way we live now is harming future generations. Everyone has a role to play to minimise waste and its impact on the environment. We know communities, businesses and local... More
    Closed 10 December 2021
41 results. Page 1 of 2