It has never been more important to be talking about the issues relating to the environment and the economy. And it is great to see more and more people getting involved in the discussion about how we can ensure New Zealand’s environmental resources are available for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations.
The Ministry plays an enabling role in the country’s environmental management system. This role requires us to have the perspective and capability to provide robust policy advice that informs and helps New Zealanders build an environmental management system that will deliver the best environmental standards now and into the future. A good example of this is the progress being made in the area of freshwater management reform.
As part of the Natural Resources Sector we have developed the Natural Resources Framework. This will help us to collectively understand and frame issues in a broad stewardship context. It does this by incorporating a broad range of perspectives, focusing our attention on institutions and behaviours, and allowing us to take a ‘systems’ view. Taking people as its starting point, it will help us to understand the possible future implications of today’s policy choices, to make sense of the environmental, economic, social and cultural systems, their interrelationships, and the behaviours that drive outcomes.
We are also working with Statistics New Zealand to improve the country’s environmental evidence base. Good information on the state of our environment is important to New Zealand’s long-term success. It should underpin all environment and economic decisions, and is essential for understanding the impact of policies and decisions on natural resources over time. The introduction of the Environmental Reporting Bill is an important step in improving the evidence base, providing comprehensive information on five key environmental domains – air, climate and atmosphere, fresh water, marine, and land, with biodiversity as a theme across all the domains.
It is nearly four years since the Ministry’s strategic direction – focused on environmental stewardship for a prosperous New Zealand – was launched. It is a testament to the quality of the work that the strategic direction remains a corner stone of the Ministry’s journey today. Our challenge over the coming year is to ensure our long-term vision is better integrated with our medium-term planning.
People are the Ministry’s most valuable resource and we continue to invest in them. Our focus is on attracting, developing and retaining highly engaged people who can service Ministers well, working in partnership with the rest of the Natural Resources Sector, local government, and central government agencies.
As a Ministry, we are proud of the contribution we make. We are committed to our collective ways of working, and will continue to meet the challenges of operating in this manner.
Chief Executive statement of responsibility
In signing this statement, I acknowledge that I am responsible for the information on strategic intentions contained in the Statement of Intent for the Ministry for the Environment. This information has been prepared in accordance with section 38 and section 40 of the Public Finance Act 1989.
Paul Reynolds Glenn Phillips
Chief Executive Director, Strategic Business Performance
(Chief Financial Officer)
Introduction from the Chief Executive
May 2014
© Ministry for the Environment