1 July, 2009
“An important part of the Government’s strategy to address fresh water quality is improving the standard and frequency of monitoring”, Environment Minister Nick Smith said today in addressing Fish & Game New Zealand’s annual staff conference.
Read full release >>11 June, 2009
Changes in law and practice are needed to address the record number of late resource consents, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith said today.
Read full release >>10 June, 2009
New Zealand's air quality standards need reviewing to ensure they are practical and achievable, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.
Read full release >>8 June, 2009
Great to be here this evening. I thank you for this opportunity to be part of your important 2009 conference. It is aptly titled “Reform in Paradise – threat or opportunity?” It will not surprise you that I want to push the “opportunity” part of your conference theme.
Read full speech >>8 June, 2009
A new process to improve New Zealand's fresh water management was today announced by Environment Minister Nick Smith and Agriculture Minister David Carter.
Read full release >>4 June, 2009
Nine individuals, businesses and organisations from Kaitaia to Otago have been honoured for making an outstanding contribution to protecting the environment at the annual Green Ribbon Awards announced tonight.
Read full release >>28 May, 2009
The Government is increasing funding for its environmental priorities in 2009/10, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
Read full release >>8 May, 2009
NZ Planning Institute Annual Conference, 8 May 2009
Read full speech >>8 May, 2009
Greater central Government direction and closer alignment with other legislation are the key objectives of the Government's second phase of reform of the Resource Management Act, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.
Read full release >>26 March, 2009
The Government is to investigate finfish and oyster farming opportunities in Northland in a bid to grow New Zealand's aquaculture industry, Minister for the Environment Nick Smith and Minister of Fisheries Phil Heatley announced today.
Read full release >>18 March, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the announcement by The Warehouse that it plans to reduce the use of plastic bags by charging customers who use them.
Read full release >>11 March, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith today stated that five programmes led by the Ministry for the Environment would be discontinued or scaled back to ensure the Government could afford to meet its priorities for the environment.
Read full release >>19 February, 2009
The Government today introduced a Bill to the House that will cut through suffocating red tape for Kiwi homeowners, businesses and farmers while safeguarding the environment.
Read full release >>19 February, 2009
Mr Speaker, I move that the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Bill now be read a first time.
Read full speech >>12 February, 2009
Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today welcomed a deal by the Lake Taupo Protection Trust to convert more than 930 hectares of farmland into forestry.
Read full release >>10 February, 2009
Environment and Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the announcement that electric cars would be commercially available in New Zealand.
Read full release >>6 February, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the start of a search for New Zealand's latest batch of environmental champions, calling for nominations for the 2009 Green Ribbon Awards.
Read full release >>3 February, 2009
Changes to the Resource Management Act will simplify and streamline processes without compromising environmental protections, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
Read full release >>23 January, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith will tomorrow publicly notify Mighty River Power's proposal for a 122-turbine wind farm at Turitea, near Palmerston North.
Read full release >>19 December, 2008
Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced his decision to refer the Mighty River Power proposal for a 131-turbine wind farm at Turitea, near Palmerston North, to an independent Board of Inquiry.
Read full release >>18 December, 2008
Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley have welcomed the decision to allocate more space for aquaculture but have expressed disappointment that it took so long.
Read full release >>16 December, 2008
Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the appointment of the RMA Technical Advisory Group to support the Government's programme of reform of the Resource Management Act.
Read full release >>15 December, 2008
The decision by the Environmental Risk Management Authority to cease the use of the insecticide endosulfan reinforces the importance of an independent scientific system of assessment, says Environment Minister Nick Smith.
Read full release >>12 December, 2008
Environment Minister Nick Smith and Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley have announced that rules governing aquaculture will be overhauled alongside the Government's wider review of the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Read full release >>10 December, 2008
The Ministry for the Environment’s Briefing to the Incoming Minister, as well as briefings from ERMA and the Bioethics Council, were released publicly at 2pm today.
Read full release >>10 December, 2008
New Environment Minister Nick Smith today released the independent report commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment into its handling of the Mapua contaminated site clean-up near Nelson.
Read full release >>9 December, 2008
A strong consensus is building around the need for significant reform of the Resource Management Act according to Environment Minister Nick Smith.
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