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Environment Minister Nick Smith today launched the Love NZ recycling initiative in Wellington to coincide with Rugby World Cup 2011.

“The Rugby World Cup is the biggest event New Zealand has hosted. This Love NZ campaign is about recycling thousands of tonnes of glass, plastic and paper that would otherwise go to landfill and showing our 85,000 international guests that we care for our environment.  This is about turning a potential risk from large volumes of waste into an opportunity to reinforce our clean, green brand," Dr Smith said.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Nick Smith will visit Japan and China over the Easter recess to meet with his respective counterparts, Minister Rya Matsumoto and Minister Zhou Shengzien, to enhance environmental cooperation between New Zealand and our two major Asian trading partners.

Good evening. I would like to extend a special welcome to our overseas guests to ‘Windy Wellington’.

I have heard New Zealand described as the ‘Saudi Arabia of wind’. It’s an apt description.

Our long narrow country lies in the middle of the ocean unprotected by other landforms, and across the path of prevailing westerly winds. We are smack bang in the part of the globe referred to by sailors as the ‘Roaring Forties’.

Wind is certainly one natural resource we have in spades.

The Government today announced its National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation under the Resource Management Act to encourage investment in wind, geothermal, hydro, and tidal power.

“This National Policy Statement is about Government recognising the importance of renewable energy and will help New Zealand meet its targets of 90% renewable electricity by 2025 and 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” Dr Smith said.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the passing of the Second Reading of the Environmental Protection Authority Bill without division saying New Zealand needs to strengthen and improve its environmental management.

“This reform is about providing stronger central Government direction on environmental regulation, better efficiency and cost effectiveness and improving the integrity of systems by delegating administration of regulatory functions to an independent Crown entity,” Dr Smith said.

Kia ora hui hui tatou katoa

I am delighted to join you for this symposium today, and I want to congratulate the Lake Water Quality Society on its role and for this event.

This morning I want to talk about the Government's agenda to improve freshwater quality in New Zealand. This includes: closer collaboration; increased funding; stronger central government direction; improved regulation; the need for better science; and a set of consistent and transparent reporting that will ensure we can monitor progress.

The Government today released the final report of the Land and Water Forum that was presented to Environment Minister Nick Smith and Agriculture Minister David Carter this week saying it provides a good framework for advancing water reform.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Environmental Protection Authority Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, the establishment of the Environmental Protection Authority marks an exciting new era of environmental management in our country.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Environmental Protection Authority Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, the establishment of the Environmental Protection Authority marks an exciting new era of environmental management in our country.

New Zealand deserves no less than a world class regulatory system that reflects our environmental values in conjunction with our economic interests.  We need to be smarter in developing ways to grow our economy while lifting our environmental management.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today called for nominations for the 2011 Green Ribbon Awards which honour the outstanding contributions New Zealanders make in caring for the environment.

"It takes initiative and dedication to tackle environmental issues and I welcome the opportunity at the 21st Green Ribbon Awards to honour the people and organisations that are committed to protecting and improving New Zealand’s environment,” Dr Smith said.

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced changes to the makeup of the Waste Advisory Board.

The eight-person board provides advice to the Minister for the Environment on issues relating to waste management and minimisation.

The Government is streamlining the resource consent processes for land remediation works to enable homes to be rebuilt more quickly for Christchurch families hit by the 4 September and 22 February earthquakes, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith today announced the members of a four-strong Establishment Board tasked with ensuring the new Environmental Protection Authority is ready for business on 1 July.

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.

Introduction

Thank you for the invitation to address the Second Annual Fresh Water Management Forum which I have titled Fresh water reform: a work in progress.

It’s great to see so many major stakeholders from the fresh water sector here today. I’d like to specifically acknowledge Dr Bryan Jenkins and wish him well in the key role of heading the Waterways Research Centre jointly funded by Lincoln and Canterbury Universities.

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.

This 12th Bluegreens Forum in the beautiful coastal and heritage village of Akaroa is a landmark in our work to advance our ideals for a cleaner and more prosperous New Zealand. This morning I want to do some thank yous, I want to reinforce the values we have developed and advocated for a decade, and I want to make some important Government announcements on the environment.

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.