Improving Aotearoa New Zealand's environmental reporting system

Overview

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 Government is proposing amendments to the ERA to strengthen how we report on the environment.

• Read the summary of the consultation document (PDF 296KB)
• Read the full consultation document (PDF 3.1MB)
• Read the preliminary Cost Benefit Analysis (PDF 1.6MB)
• Read the full Cost Benefit Analysis (PDF 1.9MB)
• Read the addendum to the Cost Benefit Analysis (PDF 1.1MB)

Integrating te ao Māori and mātauranga Māori

A key aspect of our work to improve the ERA is giving a stronger voice to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te ao Māori and mātauranga Māori. This includes exploring how mātauranga Māori, data, evidence, knowledge and science could be shared, collected, managed and protected in environmental reporting.

In addition to the proposals set out in our consultation document, we also asked some broader questions about how we can better incorporate te ao Māori and mātauranga Māori within environmental reporting.

• Read the information sheet (PDF 266KB)
• Watch the recording of our webinar