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Thank you Mark [Christie, President of Agcarm] for your introduction.

I firstly want to acknowledge the significant contribution members of Agcarm make to New Zealand.

As a farmer and a Minister, I know that the productivity of our land is critical to the wealth of our country and the ability to meet the aspirations of New Zealanders.

The products your members provide are a vital link in a supply chain that starts with our fertile land and ends with satisfied customers around the world.

Good morning it’s great to be with you in Queenstown today. I would like to acknowledge:

Mr Speaker, I move that the Environmental Reporting Bill now be read a first time.

Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us at Zealandia today.

We choose this venue for today’s announcement because the Kaiwharawhara catchment that the Sanctuary lies in has over the years been a microcosm of some of the challenges that the Government’s freshwater reforms seek to address.

The catchment is influenced by forestry, farming, regenerating native bush, urban and industrial land uses.

This presents a challenging cocktail of impacts on the water quality of the stream and its environs.

I move, that the Resource Management Amendment Bill, the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Amendment Bill (No 2), and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Bill be now read a third time.

This Bill makes a number of changes to the Resource Management Act which are designed to improve efficiency, enable growth, provide good environmental outcomes and ensure decisions about resource management are reached in a timely and cost-effective way.

President Peter, Prime Minister, Board members, colleagues and most importantly, delegates. Good morning.

There is no doubt that the Resource Management Act is a critical piece of legislation.

It must protect our natural environment and the qualities we hold dear as New Zealanders, while encouraging a successful economy and enabling a vibrant built environment.

Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here to talk to you on the second day of the EDS conference.

I would like to acknowledge Dr Jan Wright, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, who has just spoken to you about her perspectives on environmental reporting.

I would also like to acknowledge the many other distinguished speakers and environmental thought leaders that are among us today.

Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the second day of the Valuing Nature conference.

Yesterday you heard about the economics of nature and valuing nature at a local level.  Today the focus is on natural capital in a national context and in business.

This is particularly pertinent to me in the environment portfolio, where I am leading work to take a good, hard look at the way we manage our natural resources.

I move that the Resource Management Reform Bill 2012 now be read a second time.

I would first like to thank the chair and members of the Local Government and Environment Select Committee for their work on this Bill.

I would also like to thank everyone who took the time to make a submission to the Committee. The Committee received 234 submissions to the Bill, and heard 147 oral submissions in hearings in both Wellington and Auckland.

Good morning.

Thank you Paul. Good morning everyone, and thank you for inviting me here today.

Sadly, I missed seeing you all at last year’s WasteMINZ conference due to other commitments. However, my colleague, Nicky Wagner, who kindly attended on my behalf, had some great things to say about her experience, and about the important role WasteMINZ plays in supporting the waste sector in New Zealand.

I am pleased to be here today to speak to you about some of the important challenges we face in managing and minimising waste in this country.

Good morning.

Firstly can I add my welcome to you all to the Forum. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to kick-off the substantial part of the day with a discussion of the Government’s plans to reform the resource management system, including the way in which we manage our freshwater.

This morning I want to talk about three key areas – the Government’s rationale behind our Resource Management Act work programme, the importance of freshwater management in New Zealand, and announce the next stage of our freshwater reform programme.

Good morning.

Firstly, let me thank you all for joining us this morning and in particular thank John Hassan and Chapman Tripp for hosting us here today.

This morning, I want to give you an overview of the Government’s rationale behind our Resource Management Act work programme, canvas some of our reforms to date, and announce the next phase of reform.

Can I say at the outset that today’s announcements do not include our water reform proposals. These proposals will be separately released in the next few weeks.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Resource Management Reform Bill 2012 be now read a first time.

I nominate the Local Government and Environment Select Committee to consider the Bill.

Resource management reform is a key part of the Government’s Business Growth Agenda. New Zealand needs a resource management system that enables growth, provides good environmental outcomes and is capable of adapting to changing values, pressures and technology.

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.

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.

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.

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

It is a great privilege to be in the company of such distinguished mariners and lovers of the sea.

I would particularly like to acknowledge the work of Captain Bob McKillop and the Navy League in fostering maritime activities for young people through the support of the Sea Cadets.

Today, I would like to outline the Government’s vision for unlocking the economic potential of our vast ocean resources.

Good morning. Thank you to the organisers of today’s seminar for providing this opportunity for everyone involved in contributing to the Zero Draft Document for Rio+20 to get together and share ideas and information on these matters which are so critical to our future.

I would like to acknowledge the distinguished speakers and guests, and especially acknowledge and thank all of you who have put many hours and much thought into your submissions.