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Responsible ministers

The Minister for the Environment is the minister responsible for directing and overseeing the work of the Ministry for the Environment. The Minister for the Environment is Hon Trevor Mallard.

The Associate Minister for the Environment is Hon Nanaia Mahuta.

The Ministry also has commitments to the Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues. The Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues is Hon David Parker

You can find copies of their speeches and media releases on the Government's official website.

Formal responsibilities

Under the Resource Management Act, the Minister for the Environment is responsible for:

recommending the issue of national policy statements and making of national environmental standards
deciding whether or not to intervene on proposals of national significance under the Resource Management Act
recommending the approval of an applicant as a requiring authority or as a heritage protection authority
recommending the issue of water conservation orders
monitoring the effect and implementation of the Resource Management Act (including any regulations in force under it), national policy statements, and water conservation orders
monitoring the relationship between the functions, powers, and duties of central government and local government
monitoring and investigating matters of environmental significance
considering and investigating the use of economic instruments.

The Minister for the Environment also has limited powers to:

appoint people to carry out the functions of a local authority if the Minister considers that it is not performing to the extent that is necessary to achieve the purpose of the Act
make grants and loans to any person to assist in achieving the purpose of the Resource Management Act.

The Resource Management Amendment Act No 5 (2005) gave the Minister for the Environment additional powers to:

review the performance of councils
direct a council to prepare a plan to address resource management issues in a region or direct a territorial authority to change its district plan
request information held by a council at no cost to the Minister.

Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, the Minister for the Environment may:

appoint members to the Environmental Risk Management Authority
issue policy direction to the Authority
call in an application which has significant effects, and make a decision on the application, using the Authority as advisers.

The Ministry provides advice and support for the Minister in carrying out these responsibilities.