Nick Smith,
Kate Wilkinson
10 June, 2011
The Green Party’s opposition to the Freedom
Camping Bill shows it puts people camping
where they like ahead of responsibility
to our environment, Environment Minister
Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Kate
Wilkinson say.
The Bill passed its First Reading in Parliament
yesterday with only the Green Party and
former Conservation Minister Chris Carter
opposing it.
“I am particularly disappointed the Green
Party voted against the Bill. They are being
hypocritical in demanding stronger action
against polluting farmers but turning a
blind eye to the increasing problems in
our most sensitive areas caused by irresponsible
freedom campers. They cannot pretend to
be the defenders of New Zealand’s clean
green brand when they put more weight on
camping freely than the responsibility to
do so without polluting,” Dr Smith said.
“We need to take a consistent and fair approach
to all groups whose pollution is damaging
New Zealand’s reputation. The Government
has more than doubled the maximum fines
to $200,000 for farmers and $300,000 for
industry for breaches of water discharge
consents. Regional Councils have toughened
up enforcement with a significant increase
in the number of prosecutions. Everyone
needs to take a step up in better respecting
our environment.”
Ms Wilkinson says it’s baffling that the
Green Party is happy for some of our most
pristine and popular countryside to be treated
as a toilet or dumping ground.
“Freedom camping will always remain part
of the Kiwi holiday culture but it’s important
that we can better prevent the appalling
behaviour of the minority so everyone else
can enjoy their holiday.
“This Bill is about giving local councils
and DOC better tools to protect areas that
have been badly impacted by the growth of
freedom camping. The backcountry will remain
unaffected, as it should be, and no responsible,
law-abiding camper is going to be impacted.”
+ More
EPA to improve NZ’s
environmental management
Nick Smith
30 June, 2011
The start of the new standalone Environmental
Protection Authority tomorrow will provide
stronger and better coordinated central
government leadership on environmental regulation,
Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
“The new Environmental Protection Authority
will strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency
of New Zealand’s environmental regulation,”
Dr Smith said at the official launch of
the EPA at Parliament today.
“It is better to have one national regulator
of environmental issues than having the
same issues relitigated across 78 councils.
It also makes sense to have one government
agency responsible rather than having these
functions spread across four different departments
and authorities.”
The EPA will be responsible for regulation
of hazardous substances, new organisms,
genetically modified organisms, national
consenting under the Resource Management
Act, ozone depleting chemicals, assessment
of environmental effects in Antarctica and
toxic waste exports and imports. Management
of the Emissions Trading Scheme will transfer
to the Authority on 1 January 2012, and
will take over consenting in the Exclusive
Economic Zone and Continental Shelf on 1
July 2012, subject to the proposed legislation
coming in.
“The EPA is complemented by a raft of new
National Policy Statements and National
Environmental Standards on water, air quality,
contaminated soil, renewable energy, coastal
management and biodiversity which are part
of the Government’s agenda of strengthening
national direction. The National Policy
Statement on Freshwater Management also
comes into effect tomorrow,” Dr Smith said.
“Well designed institutions are crucial
to New Zealand performing well. The Treasury,
Reserve Bank and Auditor-General play key
complementary roles in delivery the policy,
regulatory and audit roles for managing
New Zealand’s economic resources. We need
an effective Environment Ministry, EPA and
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
to play equivalent roles with respect to
New Zealand’s environmental resources.
“This proposal originates from National's
2006 Bluegreen Vision for New Zealand and
2008 election policy. It brings us into
line with best-practice internationally
where most jurisdictions have an Environmental
Protection Authority.
“The success of the EPA will be in it being
a fair, effective and efficient regulator
of our environment. We want a technically
expert and professional organisation that
will protect the environment while minimising
compliance costs and enabling our economy
to grow.”
