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Environment Canterbury has improved its compliance with resource management consenting timelines from 29% in 2007/08 to 92% in 2010/11, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

“That only 29% of consents in 2007/08 were processed on time – the worst of New Zealand’s 84 councils – was one of the key reasons the Government stepped in and appointed Commissioners in March last year. It is a real credit to the Commissioners and Environment Canterbury staff that this has been turned around so dramatically,” Dr Smith said.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the first step in a new nationwide programme to encourage the recycling and safe disposal of unwanted televisions.

“The falling price of new TVs, international sporting events and the national switchover to digital transmission from 2012 are all fuelling a change from older cathode ray tube sets to flat screen high definition LCD and plasma TVs,” Dr Smith said.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced and visited new Auckland initiatives to reduce waste and enhance the Auckland environment.

“These three projects are about the Government working with schools, businesses and community groups to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to better protect the environment, Dr Smith said.

The Government is investing $2.3 million in waste minimisation projects in Northland that will create jobs and boost the local economy, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

Enterprise Northland is to receive $2.1 million from the Waste Minimisation Fund towards the cost of processing more than 6200 tonnes of waste oyster shells and 300 tonnes of waste timber at Opua in the Bay of Islands.

Environment Minister Nick Smith has welcomed the collaborative effort being taken by the Kaikōura community in protecting and managing its iconic coastline.

Dr Smith today received the proposed Kaikōura marine strategy, ‘Sustaining our Sea’, at Takahanga Marae in Kaikōura. The strategy was developed by the Kaikōura Coastal Marine Guardians (Te Korowai) made up of representatives from iwi, fishing organisations, local businesses, and environmental and recreational groups.

Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere is to be cleaned up with a $11.6 million plan involving Government, Ngāi Tahu, Environment Canterbury, Fonterra, Selwyn District Council, Lincoln University and the local community, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today at Ngāti Moki Marae.

The Government is offering to do all it can to ensure the rezoning of land for residential development in Kaiapoi happens as quickly as possible, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

Dr Smith today visited Kaiapoi with MP Kate Wilkinson and met with officers from the Waimakariri District Council and Environment Canterbury to discuss the issue of rezoning land for residential development.

The Government today introduced legislation to manage the environmental effects of activities in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) and announced interim measures to manage the environmental effects of activities before the new law is passed.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today released a discussion document, Measuring Up, seeking public feedback on a proposal for a new Environmental Reporting Act.

“We need to strengthen the integrity of New Zealand’s clean, green brand by requiring independent and nationally consistent reporting on the state of our environment,” Dr Smith said at an event in Wellington to mark the 25th anniversary of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

New laws to better manage freedom camping will take affect in time for the Rugby World Cup with the passing of the Freedom Camping Bill tonight, say Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Minister for the Environment Nick Smith.

“Freedom camping is an important part of our tourism industry and is a great Kiwi tradition and we want to see that continue,” Ms Wilkinson says.

“The presumption is that freedom camping is allowed except where councils and the Department of Conservation have specifically prohibited it.

High-tech mapping of New Zealand’s forests, pastures, rivers and cities will result from a research programme announced today by Environment Minister Nick Smith and Science and Innovation Minister Wayne Mapp.

The Government will give $1 million a year over the next four years for the research which uses satellite technology, geospatial mapping techniques and advanced computing power.

The Government is to provide more than $1 million to support the recycling of electronic waste such as televisions and computers, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

The Minister made the announcement at the opening of the Wellington e-Cycle Recycling Facility at Seaview. This facility, along with others in Auckland and Christchurch, is breaking down e-waste received from the network of depots all round the country.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the Government’s accreditation of Resene’s PaintWise recycling and education programme as a product stewardship scheme.

“Product stewardship schemes are an excellent way of getting all parties involved in the production and distribution of a product to take responsibility for its environmental impact at the end of its life,” Dr Smith said.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today invited businesses, organisations and individuals with innovative waste minimisation ideas to apply to the Waste Minimisation Fund. 

An extra 1250 households each year will be able to access Government funding to replace their old solid fuel heaters, Environment Minister Nick Smith and Acting Energy and Resources Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

New Zealand’s average number of air quality exceedances dropped to 3.5 in 2010 – the best level since nationwide records began in 2000, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

Dr Smith today outlined the result at the annual conference of the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand in Auckland.

Using recycled plastic bottles to make floating wetlands is helping nature restore water quality in Rotorua’s lakes, Minister for the Environment Nick Smith says.

Dr Smith was at Lake Rotoehu today to launch a new 2800 square metre floating wetland made from 364,000 recycled plastic soft-drink bottles. The wetland is one initiative of the Rotorua Lakes protection and restoration programme in which the Government has invested $72.1m.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the Tauranga Environment Centre will receive $60,000 from the Community Environment Fund to help it deal with local environmental issues – a $20,000 increase on last year’s funding.

Thousands of tonnes of used disposable nappies in Wellington are to be composted rather than going to landfill as a consequence of an innovative Kiwi business supported by the Government, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

“Disposable nappies are very convenient for busy modern families but people are concerned about the impact of waste on the environment. This innovation enables parents to enjoy the convenience without getting the environmental guilts,” Dr Smith said.

New Zealand needs to consider how it leverages off its clean green brand in global markets and how new technologies can be developed to reduce environmental impacts, Environment Minister Nick Smith and Acting Minister for Economic Development David Carter say.

The Ministers today launched the Advisory Group on Green Growth's discussion paper in Wellington. The eight-member Advisory Group was announced by the Government in January to ensure the Government receives the best advice on green growth initiatives.

The start of the new standalone Environmental Protection Authority tomorrow will provide stronger and better coordinated central government leadership on environmental regulation, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

“The new Environmental Protection Authority will strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of New Zealand’s environmental regulation,” Dr Smith said at the official launch of the EPA at Parliament today.

Greater collaboration from the regional council, farmers, environmentalists, iwi, and the Government is needed to reverse declining water quality in Southland’s Waituna Lagoon, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

Dr Smith visited the lagoon today where he talked to Environment Southland and locals about the major issues facing the internationally recognised site.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today visited Foxton to launch an action plan instigated by the Manawatu River Leaders Accord for cleaning up the Manawatu River. 

The Green Party’s opposition to the Freedom Camping Bill shows it puts people camping where they like ahead of responsibility to our environment, Environment Minister Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson say.

The Bill passed its First Reading in Parliament yesterday with only the Green Party and former Conservation Minister Chris Carter opposing it.