Nature and scope of functions

The Ministry for the Environment is the Government’s primary adviser on the New Zealand environment and international matters that affect the environment. The Ministry also has a growing leadership role in relation to sustainable development.

The Ministry advises on national environmental priorities and provides national direction, including through national policy statements, national environmental standards and other regulations. We work closely with key sectors, organisations and communities to improve the New Zealand environment and to promote practices that reduce pressures on the environment.

Environmental governance is shared between central and local government, with day-to-day management of the natural and built environment largely the responsibility of local government. National policy statements under the Resource Management Act inform local government decisions so councils can balance competing national benefits and local costs.

To make informed decisions affecting the environment, accurate and reliable information is needed. The Ministry reports on the state of New Zealand’s environment and on the effectiveness of different management approaches.

The Ministry for the Environment works closely with other government agencies that have responsibilities connected to environmental sustainability. These include the Department of Conservation, and the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, Fisheries, Economic Development, Transport, and Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In addition, the Ministry oversees the work of one Crown entity, the Environmental Risk Management Authority. It makes decisions on applications to import, develop or field test or release new organisms; and to import or manufacture hazardous substances in New Zealand. We also oversee the work of the Bioethics Council.

Statutory functions

The Ministry for the Environment was established under the Environment Act (1986). This Act defines ‘environment’ widely to include ecosystems, people and communities, and natural and physical resources. The functions of the Ministry as set out in this Act are:

• to advise the Minister on:

  • management policies for natural and physical resources and ecosystems to meet the objectives of the Environment Act (1986)

  • significant environmental impacts of public or private sector proposals, particularly those that are inadequately covered by existing legislative or other environmental assessment requirements

  • ensuring that effective provision is made for public participation in environmental planning and policy formulation, particularly at the regional and local level

  • the application, operation and effectiveness of the Acts specified in the Schedule to the Environment Act (1986), in relation to the achievement of the Act’s objectives

  • procedures for assessing and monitoring environmental impacts

  • pollution control and coordinating the management of pollutants in the environment

  • the identification and likelihood of natural hazards and reducing the effects of natural hazards

  • the control of hazardous substances, including managing the manufacture, storage, transport and disposal of hazardous substances

• to obtain information, and to conduct and supervise research, so it may advise the Government on environmental policies

• to provide the Government, its agencies and other public authorities with advice on:

  • the application, operation and effectiveness of the Acts specified in the Schedule to the Environment Act (1986), in relation to the achievement of the Act’s objectives

  • procedures for assessing and monitoring environmental impacts

  • pollution control and coordinating the management of pollutants in the environment

  • the identification and likelihood of natural hazards and reducing the effects of natural hazards

  • the control of hazardous substances, including managing the manufacture, storage, transport and disposal of hazardous substances

• to facilitate and encourage the resolution of conflict in relation to policies and proposals that may affect the environment

• to provide and disseminate information and services to promote environmental policies, including environmental education and effective public participation in environmental planning

• to provide advice on matters relating to the environment

• to carry out functions specified under any other enactment (including the legislation listed below).

• to facilitate and encourage the resolution of conflict in relation to policies and proposals that may affect the environment

• to provide and disseminate information and services to promote environmental policies, including environmental education and effective public participation in environmental planning

• to provide advice on matters relating to the environment

• to carry out functions specified under any other enactment (including the legislation listed below).

Legislation administered by the Ministry for the Environment

The Ministry for the Environment is responsible for administering the following laws, including amendments and regulations under these laws:

• Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act 1941

• Environment Act 1986

• Resource Management Act 1991

• Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996

• Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996

• Climate Change Response Act 2002

• Aquaculture Reform (Repeals and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004

• Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2004.