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A recycling facility that will process up to 80,000 televisions each year has been opened by Environment Minister Amy Adams.

The Auckland-based Abilities Group has used $110,000 from the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund to buy equipment that will allow it to recycle televisions at its Glenfield-based plant. The initiative will divert up to 750 tonnes of waste from landfill each year.

Environment Minister Amy Adams says a floating wetland made from hundreds of thousands of recycled plastic bottles has been an effective initiative to help restore Lake Rotorua’s water quality.

Ms Adams visited the 4000-square metre floating wetland today as part of a visit to see the progress that has been made in the Rotorua Lakes Protection and Restoration Programme.

The floating wetland, which was launched in July last year, is part of the restoration programme to which the Government has contributed $72.1 million.

Water New Zealand conference
Rotorua
September 27

Good morning.

Thank you Margaret for your introduction, and thank you to Water New Zealand for the invitation to join you at your conference today.

The size of your membership and the attendance at this event puts some perspective around the critical importance of freshwater to our country, and the role your organisation plays.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced that more than $750,000 has been given to five environmental initiatives in the latest round of the Community Environment Fund.

“The Community Environment Fund encourages people to take environmental action in their communities. This funding will be used by community organisations to restore native forests, increase biodiversity, reduce pests and educate communities,” Ms Adams says.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has praised the success of global action to tackle the ozone hole, which scientists say has stopped increasing and is on its way to recovery.

Today is the 25th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, the global agreement to phase out the production and use of substances which have been depleting the ozone layer.

Commissioners will continue to govern Environment Canterbury after the 2013 local authority elections, Local Government Minister David Carter and Environment Minister Amy Adams announced today.

Commissioners were appointed in 2010 following a critical external review of Environment Canterbury’s performance. Legislation empowering the governance arrangements states that their term was to end at the local government elections in 2013.

A new glass-sorting facility opened by Environment Minister Amy Adams in Tauranga today will help to divert about 3000 tonnes of glass from going into landfill each year.

The facility at Te Maunga Resource Recovery Park received about $47,000 for the project from the Government’s waste disposal levy allocated to Tauranga City Council.

In addition to accepting glass bottles and jars, Te Maunga will also start accepting flat glass, including from windows and doors, which will be sorted and stored before it is then sent to other facilities to be recycled.

Environment Minister Amy Adams has welcomed the passing of a new law that for the first time will enable comprehensive environmental management of activities in New Zealand’s vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

“This new environmental legislation will allow us to carefully manage development of the resources in our oceans, and help us unlock the enormous economic potential that lies in our oceans in an environmentally-responsible way,” Ms Adams says.

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.