A new collaborative group involving environmental and landowner organisations has come together to improve national policy on protecting nature on private land, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today at the Environmental Defence Society’s ‘Wild Places’ conference in Auckland.
Strong progress on building and section consents in the Wakatipu Basin has led to Queenstown-Lakes Housing Accord targets being increased nearly 50 per cent during the next two years, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
Dr Smith and Queenstown-Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden released the revised figures after discussions today, saying they would go from 950 to 1400 for the remaining two years of the accord.
The Government has today welcomed the release of the Independent Hearings Panel’s recommendations on the Unitary Plan, saying the new plan is crucial to Auckland’s future, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
“Auckland’s current planning rules date back to the 1990s, seven different councils and 400,000 fewer people. The Independent Hearings Panel has done a good job of addressing the complex issues and balancing the competing interests.
The number of children hospitalised with hazardous substances injuries dropped 40 per cent from 163 per year to 96 per year over the past eight years, a report released today by Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith shows.
“We are making good progress in improving the safety of children and young people from hazardous substances,” Dr Smith said in releasing the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) report at the National Poison Centre in Dunedin.
The work of the Judge David Kirkpatrick-led Independent Hearings Panel in successfully reporting the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan back to the council is a herculean task which has to be acknowledged, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
The panel today sent its report to the council, which will release it to the Government and the public next Wednesday, 27 July.
The Government is welcoming a parliamentary committee recommendation that the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill be passed with amendments, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
New Zealanders are being asked to have their say on the environmental science priorities facing the nation, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry say.
A discussion paper released today will lead to a conservation and environment science “roadmap” identifying priority areas for scientific research during the next 20 years.
Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox have today announced funding of $517,000 to further restore South Canterbury’s Wainono Lagoon.
“This lagoon and its associated wetlands are recognised as meeting the criteria of internationally significant wetlands, and it is important we do what we can to help restore it,” Dr Smith says.
The Government is to provide $975,000 to assist the Council and Environment Canterbury to clean up 90,000 litres of toxic substances at the Concours Electroplaters site in Timaru’s North Street, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
The opening of two new salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds today is a welcome development for New Zealand’s aquaculture industry, Environment Minister and Nelson MP Dr Nick Smith says.
Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox have announced more than $376,000 of funding to improve water quality in seven waterways in the Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki regions.
Local iwi Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi will lead the Te Kāhui o Rauru Trust’s Waterways Restoration Project, working with both local and central government.
Claims by the Green Party on contaminated sites expenditure expose how poorly they understand economics, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
“Their claim the Government has underspent on contaminated sites clean-up by $32.6 million involves basic accounting errors that raise serious questions about their economic competence.
Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith is welcoming the addition of real-time air quality data to the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website.
“Air quality in New Zealand has improved significantly due to tighter regulation of home heating, vehicle fuels, car exhaust systems and industrial discharges. However, we still have areas where particulate pollution exceeds World Health Organisation standards, particularly on still nights in winter.
The importation of asbestos-containing products is to be banned, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.
“Exposure to asbestos poses a risk of respiratory disease and is the single biggest cause of work-related fatalities, at 170 per year. The importation of raw asbestos is already banned but we are now extending this prohibition to items which contain asbestos, with a few exceptions,” Dr Smith says.
The need for reform of the Resource Management Act (RMA) is highlighted by today’s release of the National Monitoring System data, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
Te Whangai Trust from Waikato has today been announced as the Supreme Winner of the 2016 Green Ribbon Awards.
Now in their 26th year, the Green Ribbon Awards recognise exceptional environmental achievements by individuals and organisations around New Zealand.
The Awards were presented at a Parliamentary function today, co-hosted by Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.
The Government welcomes the Green Party’s interest in cleaning up New Zealand’s lakes and rivers and the goal of ensuring all New Zealanders have access to swimmable water, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
The Government will contribute $4.2 million to meet half the costs of the remedial works required to clean-up the Calwell Slipway site at Port Nelson, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.
The Government’s proposed National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity will require councils to ensure land supply for housing and business keeps pace with growth, Environment, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
Thousands of tonnes of food which is wasted every year could be greatly reduced under a national education campaign with the help of $460,000 of Government funding, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.
A new fund of $100 million of operating funding over 10 years will support initiatives to clean up New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and aquifers, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
“There are significant costs for councils and landowners in meeting the Government’s new national standards for freshwater. This new contestable fund of $100 million will help communities improve water quality standards.”
A Colmar Brunton poll showing 89 per cent of New Zealanders support the proposed new sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands reinforces the wide mandate for progressing this ocean protection initiative, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
“This 89 per cent level of support for the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, which was announced by Prime Minister John Key last year, is phenomenal and the highest I can recall for any political issue in a Colmar Brunton poll. It shows this initiative connects with New Zealand’s core values.
The route and huts for a Great Walk in Paparoa National Park in memory of the 29 men who died in the Pike River Mine disaster has been finalised, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
“This Pike29 Memorial Track has come about because of the families’ determination that some good might come from the terrible tragedy which occurred on 19 November 2010. We are working closely with representatives of the Pike River Families Committee on the design and development of the track,” Dr Smith says.
Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry today announced the 2016 Green Ribbon Awards finalists to celebrate exceptional environmental achievements by New Zealanders.
“We are delighted to recognise these community groups, scientists, schools, councils and businesses for their innovation and achievements in the 26th annual Green Ribbon Awards,” Dr Smith says.
“This year we received a very commendable 106 nominations across the ten categories, with some projects making a positive difference over many years.
