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Environment Minister Amy Adams leaves for Canberra today to attend the Council of Australian Government’s Standing Committee on Environment and Water (SCEW).

“We’re interested in the work Australia is doing in areas such as national water reform, waste policy, and a national plan for clean air. Taking part in the standing committee and its working groups will help us with our environmental policy and implementation work,” Ms Adams says.

Environment Minister Amy Adams today announced a new appointment to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Board.

"I am pleased to announce that Dr Kevin Thompson has been appointed deputy chair of the board. Dr Thompson has a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be extremely beneficial," Ms Adams says.

Dr Thompson was chief executive of Opus, a New Zealand infrastructure consultancy. He is skilled in governance and has knowledge of New Zealand's environmental management system.

Good afternoon.

I would like to start by congratulating EDS for organising this event.

I am particularly pleased to see an environmental conference acknowledging up front that New Zealand’s economy depends on primary production.

This is to me a major advance on previous thinking which has seemed to pit the economy against the environment.

Companies that do not comply with marine consent rules in the Exclusive Economic Zone could face fines of up to $10 million under proposed changes to a Bill that provides better protection for New Zealand’s marine environment, Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced.

In a speech to the Environmental Defence Society’s conference today, Ms Adams says the Government has listened to submitters and stakeholders and is suggesting further changes to the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill.

More than 650 tonnes of plastic farm waste has been recycled nationwide during the past year thanks to a government-funded scheme, Environment Minister Amy Adams says.

Under the product stewardship scheme, Plasback supplies more than 1000 recycling bins to New Zealand farms, and collects agricultural plastics such as bale wrap, silage wrap and covers, agrichemical containers and crop bags.

The waste is recycled into plastic resin pellets and then reused in new plastic products.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced that more than $1 million has been awarded to 10 projects that will reduce the amount of rubbish going into landfills, under the latest round of the Waste Minimisation Fund.

“These projects will make a significant difference to our environment by encouraging individuals and businesses to reduce, reuse and recycle rather than putting their waste straight into the rubbish,” Ms Adams says.

Funding recipients include the Glass Packaging Forum, which will introduce a public place recycling programme.

A Bill that provides better protection for New Zealand’s marine environment and supports our reputation as a safe and clean environment passed its second reading in Parliament tonight.

Environment Minister Amy Adams says the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill will fill an important gap in the environmental management regime.

“We are now a step closer to having this legislation in place,” Ms Adams says.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced that the proposed MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway is to be referred to an independent board of inquiry under the Government’s national consenting process with the Environmental Protection Authority.

The application by the New Zealand Transport Agency relates to a proposed four-lane, 16-kilometre stretch of road through mainly urban land between MacKays Crossing and Peka Peka.

Environment Minister Amy Adams today released an independent report which considered changes to sections 6 and 7 of the Resource Management Act to address, among other things, management of natural hazards.

“After the Canterbury earthquakes, it became clear that consents for subdivisions had been granted without any consideration of the risk of liquefaction,” Ms Adams says.

“The problem was that the RMA did not, and still does not, require these sorts of risks to be assessed and managed.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced that the Government is providing $1.5 million to 16 community groups to help them improve the environment, under the latest round of the Community Environment Fund.

The fund helps New Zealanders who are passionate about the environment take action to address local issues.

The $1.5 million will help improve fish stocks, restore wetlands, implement pest control operations, reduce sediment and nutrient going into waterways, create a habitat sanctuary and establish community vegetable gardens and composting facilities.

New Zealand is supporting an Australian initiative that will see indigenous people better connecting with each other to improve the management of natural resources, Environment Minister Amy Adams announced today.

The International Indigenous Land and Sea Managers Network was launched by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the Rio+20 sustainable development conference in Brazil today.

Environment Minister Amy Adams says the key goals on oceans pushed by New Zealand at the Rio+20 conference in Brazil have been included for discussion in the summit’s outcome document.

“This is a great step and shows that the international community recognises the need for urgent collective action to address the state of our oceans,” Ms Adams says.

“This is an area that we believe can deliver real and substantial economic, social and environmental global benefits.

I am honoured to represent New Zealand, and to amplify the voices of the Pacific, as New Zealand is current Pacific Islands Forum chair.

New Zealand has come to Rio with a hope – that in reaffirming and renewing the world’s commitment to sustainable development we will address the future of the planet and aspirations of future generations.

A healthy environment is essential for maintaining human life and livelihoods and for healthy economies that are sustainable into the future.

New Zealand has signed up to a global partnership on oceans at the Rio+20 conference in Brazil, Environment Minister Amy Adams announced today.

New Zealand joins nine other countries in the partnership, including Australia, South Korea and Norway.

The partnership also includes 63 other organisations, including fishing and seafood companies and non-governmental organisations such as WWF.

Environment Minister Amy Adams leaves for Brazil today to lead New Zealand’s delegation at the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development.

“At Rio de Janeiro, New Zealand is focussing on areas that can deliver real and substantial economic, social and environmental benefits,” Ms Adams says.

“We won’t have the biggest voice, but we will be able to contribute practical and relevant ideas.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has tonight announced that Auckland-based winery Villa Maria Estate is the Supreme Winner of the Green Ribbon Awards.

The award was presented to Villa Maria Estate at a ceremony hosted by Ms Adams at Parliament tonight. A further twelve Green Ribbon Awards category winners from around the country were also announced.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson and Environment Minister Amy Adams will consider a new report that challenges law makers to think about issues such as the trade-offs between renewable energy and wild and scenic rivers.

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

It is a great privilege to be in the company of such distinguished mariners and lovers of the sea.

I would particularly like to acknowledge the work of Captain Bob McKillop and the Navy League in fostering maritime activities for young people through the support of the Sea Cadets.

Today, I would like to outline the Government’s vision for unlocking the economic potential of our vast ocean resources.

Environment Minister Amy Adams today released a discussion document on proposed regulations for the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf Bill which provides stronger protection for New Zealand’s marine environment.

The legislation, currently before Parliament, supports New Zealand’s reputation as a safe and clean environment, and provides certainty for industry on the regulatory processes that may affect investments.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter and Environment Minister Amy Adams are welcoming further progress in New Zealand’s fresh water management with the release today of the Land and Water Forum’s second report.

The report on fresh water governance and setting limits continues the work on water reform initiated by the Government in 2009 and builds on the Forum’s first report released in 2010.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has today announced 35 finalists for the 2012 Green Ribbon Awards, which honour outstanding contributions to protecting New Zealand's environment.

“The awards reflect the broad range of environmental challenges that New Zealand faces and the actions being taken to address them,” Ms Adams says.

Budget 2012 will provide $7.6 million over the next four years for an education programme that gives schools and children a hands-on approach to looking after the environment, Environment Minister Amy Adams and Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced today.

Enviroschools and Te Aho Tu Roa (the Maori immersion approach) encourage children, their schools and their families to think and act sustainably – at school, at home and in everyday life.

Environment Minister Amy Adams today called for organisations developing initiatives that increase the reuse, recycling or recovery of waste material to apply to the Waste Minimisation Fund.

“This is a chance for organisations with an innovative project to apply for support from the Government to give their project a kick start,” Ms Adams says.

Since the first funding round opened at the end of 2009, the fund has awarded about $20 million to more than 60 projects.

Government will provide funding of $133,000 to the Product Stewardship Foundation to explore recycling options for used tyres, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

“This funding will be used by the Foundation to work with tyre industry importers and retailers to identify the best way for New Zealand to recycle and re-use our used tyres,” Dr Smith says.