Displaying 1 - 24 of 326 results.

Climate Change Ministers Nick Smith and Tim Groser have warmly welcomed the outcome of the UN Climate Change negotiations which concluded successfully in Durban today.

They paid tribute to the leadership provided by the host, South Africa, which paved the way for a truly comprehensive international agreement.

“This agreement meets all the realistic expectations the New Zealand delegation had when it arrived in South Africa two weeks ago,” Mr Groser said.

The agreement:

  • Nick Smith
  • Tim Groser
  • Environment
  • International Climate Change Negotiations

The Government will provide $237,500 towards further soil testing in the Thames suburb of Moanataiari, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

Moanataiari is built on land reclaimed from the Firth of Thames. The area was filled with mine tailings, mine waste, and clean fill subdivided in the 1960s and houses built in the 1970s. Last week Moanataiari residents were advised that soil testing of roadside verges had identified elevated levels of arsenic. There are 212 houses, a school and a childcare facility in the suburb.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

The Government is working with councils and industry to maximise the recycling of the estimated 4.5 million tonnes of demolition and liquefaction waste from the Canterbury earthquakes, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Nick Smith
  • Environment
  • Earthquake Recovery

The Government has a contestable fund that the Waikato Regional Council and Thames-Coromandel District Council can apply to for further testing of contaminants at the Moanataiari subdivision in Thames, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

"The Government shares the concerns of residents and the local Thames community at the levels of arsenic recorded in soil samples at Moanataiari," said Dr Smith.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

The release of 60 penguins at Mt Maunganui beach today is a significant milestone in the Bay of Plenty's recovery from the Rena oil spill and environmental disaster, Environment Minister Nick Smith said today.

"It is a heart-warming experience after the devastating scene of oiled and dead birds to see these healthy penguins returning to their natural habitat," Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

Environment Minister Nick Smith today issued guidance for councils implementing the Government’s two new national policy statements for fresh water management and renewable electricity generation.

“These two new national policy statements on fresh water management and renewable electricity are critical to addressing problems of water quality and allocation in our lakes and the need to increase the proportion of renewable energy,” Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

The New Zealand King Salmon Company Limited’s (NZKS) proposal to establish eight new salmon faming sites in the Marlborough Sounds has been sent directly to an independent Board of Inquiry under the Government’s nationally significant proposal process with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

  • Nick Smith
  • Kate Wilkinson
  • Conservation
  • Environment

Environment and ACC Minister Nick Smith is encouraging Kiwis to take extra care while enjoying fireworks this Guy Fawkes.

“I want people to enjoy Guy Fawkes and fireworks but to do so responsibly to avoid injury, damage to property and harm to animals. I particularly want to encourage people to attend professional public displays that carry the least risk,” Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • ACC
  • Environment

Can I acknowledge Paul Jarvie, Chairman of the Occupational Health and Safety Industry Group, and other distinguished contributors to this important conference on challenges and changes in occupational health and safety.

Today I want to talk to you about:

• ACC’s performance and financial problems over time and in recent years

• The Government’s reform programme to address these issues and improve ACC

  • Nick Smith
  • ACC

Environment Minister Nick Smith today launched the clean up of New Zealand’s most contaminated site at Tui Mine with the Green Party and announced a new national environmental standard for better managing contaminated sites.

“Tui Mine poses real safety and environmental risks for the Te Aroha Community. The $15.2 million contribution from the Government, in tight financial times, is the largest ever for a clean up. It shows the Government’s commitment to improving management of the environment,” Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

The Crown and Whanganui iwi have signed a Record of Understanding which will act as the foundation for negotiating a settlement of historical grievances associated with the Whanganui River, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

“This is a commitment by both parties to work together to settle grievances which iwi have tried to have addressed by the Crown and the Courts since 1873.

  • Nick Smith
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Environment
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

ACC levy reductions of more than half a billion dollars a year for workers and businesses have been approved with ACC declaring a healthy surplus for the last year of $3.5 billion.

“These levy reductions will save households $340 million a year and businesses $247 million a year. This is money that will go back into the pockets of hard working New Zealanders and will assist with our economic recovery,” ACC Minister Nick Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • ACC

Kia ora huihui tatou katoa

Can I start by acknowledging your president Helen Atkins, the other speakers, and members of the Resource Management Law Association.

There are four dimensions I want to cover this morning regarding resource management law.

First up, I want to set the scene on why it matters and the context of our RMA reforms in the broader environment and economic policies of this Government.

Second, I want to review progress on our first phase of resource management changes and the results of the 2010/11 RMA report on Council performance.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

A report into approvals of subdivisions in Christchurch and Kaiapoi badly affected by Canterbury's earthquakes has resulted in the Government proposing changes to the Resource Management Act to better manage the risk of natural hazards.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Nick Smith
  • Environment
  • Earthquake Recovery

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced more than $1 million in funding for six projects across the country and the accreditation of a new product stewardship scheme.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today announced that The Great TV Take Back campaign netted 28,000 unwanted TVs for recycling – far exceeding the Government’s expectations.

The Great TV Take Back, run by The Warehouse and supported by the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund, invited New Zealanders to drop off old TVs in store for free recycling. The TVs collected will be recycled by companies with sound recycling credentials and monitored by the Ministry for the Environment.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

The Government today released a discussion document proposing to exclude specific types of international Kyoto units generated from the destruction of industrial gases from the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

  • Nick Smith
  • Climate Change Issues

Environment Minister Nick Smith and representatives of Ngati Maniapoto today signed an Environment Accord at Parliament that supports the commitment both parties have made to enter a new era of co-management of the Waipa River catchment.

“The Government is pleased today to acknowledge the passion Ngati Maniapoto has shown in furthering work to enhance the health of the Waipa River.  As the largest tributary flowing into the Waikato, a cleaner Waipa will have benefits for many in the region,” Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

A 2011 report released today on the performance of councils in administering the Resource Management Act shows consents are being processed more efficiently since the Government reformed the Act, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

“It is good news for jobs and investment that there have been huge efficiency gains in processing of resource consents.  Councils have taken on board the Government’s concerns over too many consents being late, too many time extensions being granted and too many further information requests,” Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

Latest World Health Organisation figures on air quality released today are out of step with the Government's data, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

“The figures released by the World Health Organisation differ from the data collected through monitoring of air quality by New Zealand’s regional councils complied by the Ministry for the Environment. Environment Ministry officials have contacted WHO to clarify how it calculated its figures and are awaiting a response,” Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

An independent review of four regional councils’ freshwater management supports steps being taken by the Government to improve water quality in New Zealand, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

“The Government concurs with the Auditor-General's conclusion that while overall water quality in New Zealand rates well internationally, the deterioration in some areas is of concern and needs addressing," Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

Growing partnerships between New Zealand and Chile on environmental issues will provide long-term benefits, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says.

Dr Smith and Chilean Environment Minister, María Ignacia Benítez, met in Wellington yesterday to reaffirm a commitment of both countries to work cooperatively on environmental issues.

  • Nick Smith
  • Climate Change Issues
  • Environment

An application by TrustPower to vary the Rakaia River Water Conservation Order has been referred to the Environment Canterbury Commissioners by Environment Minister Nick Smith.

“I received this application on 18 July and subsequently sought views from Ngāi Tahu and the Regional and relevant Zone Committees of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. I have considered their views and decided the application should be publicly notified and considered by the Environment Canterbury Commissioners,” Dr Smith said.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment

New Zealanders have the opportunity over the next fortnight to responsibly dispose of their old TV for free at The Warehouse as part of the Government’s Love New Zealand recycling programme, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

  • Nick Smith
  • Environment