20 November, 2009
The investigation into Far North District Council's performance in processing applications for resource consents will start on Monday 23 November, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.
Read full release >>16 November, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide today announced the members of the review team that will investigate Environment Canterbury's poor performance.
Read full release >>5 November, 2009
Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today welcomed the decision by Environmental Risk Management Authority New Zealand (ERMA) to seek public submissions on its reassessment of fumigant methyl bromide.
Read full release >>28 October, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced a review of the Far North District Council's functions under the Resource Management Act.
Read full release >>28 October, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide today announced a formal investigation into Environment Canterbury because its poor performance is holding the Canterbury region back.
Read full release >>24 October, 2009
Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today released a report on the processing of TrustPower’s application to operate a hydro-scheme on the Wairau River.
Read full release >>21 October, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith has today welcomed the release of league tables that rank the water quality of New Zealand’s major rivers.
Read full release >>3 October, 2009
The Government's environmental agenda is about rolling back Nanny State regulations and achieving better environmental outcomes through financial incentives, says Environment & Climate Change Minister Nick Smith.
Read full release >>1 October, 2009
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) that opens today marks a new era in managing New Zealand’s natural resources with the Government taking a more active role and major resource consents being processed nationally.
Read full release >>9 September, 2009
The Government has passed changes to improve the Resource Management Act that will untangle unnecessary red tape for New Zealanders and enable essential infrastructure to be built in a more timely way.
Read full release >>18 August, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the report back to Parliament on the Resource Management Amendment Bill saying the recommendations will cut through costly red tape without compromising environmental protections.
Read full release >>31 July, 2009
The audit report on the remediation of the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site in Mapua has confirmed the land is now fit for residential, commercial and open space use – subject to certain conditions.
Read full release >>29 July, 2009
Environment Minister Nick Smith today confirmed details of a public meeting to be held in Mapua on 31 July where residents will find out results of key reports into the state of a former contaminated site.
Read full release >>29 July, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley and Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the appointment of the Aquaculture Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide expert input to the aquaculture reform process.
Read full release >>10 July, 2009
The Minister for the Environment, Dr Nick Smith, announced today that a public meeting will be held in Mapua near Nelson on 31 July so residents can find out the results of a key report into the state of the former contaminated Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site.
Read full release >>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
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
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 >>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.
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