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About Govt3

Hot energy efficiency tip

Visit the Sustainable Business Network website for more tips on making your business more sustainable.

Govt3 is a programme for core central agencies departments and Ministries.  As of 2 June 2006, 47 agencies have formally signed up to Govt3 membership. The Govt3 programme also engages in less formal partnerships with sustainability leaders in the wider public and private sectors.

The Ministry for the Environment coordinates the Govt3 programme, offering assistance to agencies to undertake sustainable initiatives including providing information, practical tools, and links to other agencies that have undertaken similar initiatives. Govt3 focuses on four key topic areas:

There are also two major cross-cutting themes, sustainable procurement (also known as sustainable purchasing) and energy efficiency.

Govt3 promotes a 'learning by sharing' approach.

Govt3 enables agencies to achieve:

  • improvements in value for money in buying practices
  • maximising energy efficiency
  • minimising greenhouse gas emissions, use of materials, the amount of waste send to landfill
  • incorporating sustainability into procurement arrangements; and
  • credibility - walking the talk.

'Find out how to make your workplace more environmentally sustainable with our How-to guide. It provides a range of ideas on how to improve the sustainability of day-to-day activities. It also includes figures on what an average New Zealander consumes in a year. The accompanying diagram Walking the talk to sustainability shows what joining Govt3 means for your agency.

Govt3 awards

The Govt3 awards are held annually to recognise core government agencies that have excelled in the area of implementing sustainability practices.

Govt3 awards 2006 summary of the winners and highly commended

Govt3 awards 2005 summary of the winners and highly commended

The Govt3 programme promotes a 'learning by sharing' approach where participating agencies learn from the experiences of other agencies engaged in Govt3.