Search

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the final six Auckland projects from 2010/11 to receive funding from the Waste Minimisation Fund.

“Supporting these projects is a practical way the Government can encourage New Zealanders to reuse, recycle, recover and decrease the amount of waste going to our landfills,” Dr Smith said.

Environment Minister Nick Smith is encouraging Aucklanders to support a new Auckland Council scheme partially funded by Government to recover waste motor oil.

“Aucklanders could be pouring more than 400,000 litres of dirty waste motor oil down the drain polluting Auckland’s streams, rivers and harbours. This scheme is about providing free, convenient and safe disposable facilities that will see the oil either recycled or properly disposed of,” Dr Smith said.

Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today announced that an application to extend Queenstown Airport is to be considered by the Environment Court.

“I have decided this application is nationally significant and the most appropriate authority to hear and consider it is the Environment Court,” Dr Smith said.

Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith says Labour should be upfront with New Zealanders that its climate change policy would immediately put up the price of electricity and fuel.

“Labour is being quite hypocritical in protesting about power prices and the cost of living when its publicly stated policy would immediately put up the price of both fuel and electricity,” Dr Smith said.

Claims by Russell Norman in a media release today that the Government is not planning to reduce emissions with its proposed 2050 target are just plain wrong, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says.

“Dr Norman says the 50% reduction by 2050 is meaningless and actually amounts to an increase because of the distinction in the detailed consultation paper of base line being a gross figure and the target in 2050 being a net figure,” Dr Smith said.

Road cones will soon be made in New Zealand using waste plastic, thanks to local innovation and support from the Government, Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith announced today.

“We need to back up the effort of so many New Zealanders that recycle at home by encouraging businesses to produce products that reuse the millions of milk bottles,” Dr Smith said.

A new report by the Environment Ministry on dioxin emissions shows New Zealand is making significant progress in reducing our exposure to these toxic chemicals, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

“Dioxins are among the most toxic chemicals known and are associated with cancer, skin diseases, and immunity and reproductive disorders. This report shows the amount being emitted to atmosphere has halved in the last 10 years,” Dr Smith said.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the announcement of $2.5 million under the Primary Growth Partnership for applied research into reducing the impact and eventual replacement of the fumigant methyl bromide.

“Methyl bromide is an ozone-depleting chemical, a powerful greenhouse gas and a toxic chemical that it is currently required at ports to meet phytosanitary requirements of importing countries for New Zealand timber exports worth $3 billion a year,” Dr Smith said.

Finance Minister Bill English, Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee and Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the establishment of an Advisory Group on Green Growth in enabling New Zealand to grow the economy while enhancing our clean, green brand.

“This new initiative is another part of the Government's plan to build a faster growing economy," Mr English said, announcing the advisory group at the National Party’s Bluegreens forum in Akaroa. 

Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson today called for public input into a proposed National Policy Statement on New Zealand’s indigenous biodiversity announced at the Bluegreens Forum in Akaroa.

The Government is proposing to gazette under the Climate Change Response Act 2002 a 50% reduction in New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“We acknowledge it is difficult to look 40 years forward but the nature of the climate change problem requires we think and plan for the long term,” Dr Smith said. “We believe a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050, or in short -50 by 50, is a realistic but credible target for New Zealand.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced a new plan for clean air at the Bluegreens Forum in Akaroa that toughens measures to reduce pollution but gives councils more time to meet air quality standards.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced a new initiative to recycle mussel shells in the Nelson-Marlborough region thanks to a Government grant of $200,000 from the Waste Minimisation Fund.

“This initiative to convert 27,000 tonnes of mussel shells into organic feedstock and fertilisers will create jobs and wealth as well as reduce waste going to landfill,” Dr Smith said.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today approved the joint application from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (Ngāi Tahu) and the Department of Conservation (DoC) to amend the Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora) Water Conservation Order (WCO) to recognise additional outstanding values.

Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith today announced the panel and terms of reference for the review into the emissions trading scheme to ensure it is meeting its purpose of reducing emissions at least possible cost and that New Zealand is appropriately pacing itself on climate change relative to its key trading partners.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the decision to grant consents for Contact Energy’s $1 billion Tauhara II 250 MW geothermal power station in Taupo – the first project processed under the national consenting process of the reformed Resource Management Act.

“This is the first time in 20 years a major project has been consented in eight months. The average time prior to these reforms was two years with some projects taking as long as eight years.” Dr Smith said.

Reform of ACC is needed to improve incentives for workplace safety, improve services for claimants and keep levies affordable both now and in the future, ACC Minister Nick Smith announced today.

The withdrawal of the application for a water conservation order on the Hurunui River by applicants Fish and Game and Whitewater New Zealand is a positive signal of a more collaborative approach to water management in North Canterbury, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

The Government today welcomed the election of New Zealander Adrian Macey as Chair of the Kyoto Protocol at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancún, Mexico.

"This appointment reaffirms the respect in which New Zealand is held in the international climate change negotiations as well as being a personal tribute to Adrian Macey and his work as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassador between 2006 and 2010," Dr Smith said.

Ministers Tim Groser and Nick Smith today welcomed the substantial progress made at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Cancún, Mexico, saying it represented a significant step forward towards a global, legally binding and comprehensive agreement on climate change.

The Government today welcomed the election of New Zealander Adrian Macey as Chair of the Kyoto Protocol at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancún, Mexico.

"This appointment reaffirms the respect in which New Zealand is held in the international climate change negotiations as well as being a personal tribute to Adrian Macey and his work as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassador between 2006 and 2010," Dr Smith said.

Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today released a report that shows dioxin levels in the soil surrounding the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site in Mapua are lower than nationally and internationally recommended levels.

“This report should provide the local community with reassurance that the soils around the site have not been contaminated and are fit for purpose,” Dr Smith said.

Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith heads to Cancún, Mexico today for the high level ministerial section of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“New Zealand is determined to do its fair share on the global challenge of climate change and re-gather momentum from last year’s conference in Copenhagen,” Dr Smith said.