An Overview from the Secretary for the Environment

The state of our environment is of concern not just to those who care about the natural world and our indigenous plants and animals. It is also of concern to those who care about the health and wellbeing of people, the quality of life for New Zealanders, and our international trade. The sustainable management of our environment should be a concern for all of us.

A great deal has been achieved in New Zealand environmental policy over the last decade, and the foundations are now in place to achieve sustainable management of the environment.

• The Resource Management Act has fundamentally changed the way New Zealand manages land, air, water and natural resources. The Act takes a comprehensive and integrated approach to making decisions about natural resources.
• The Environment 2010 Strategy, with input from a wide range of people in the community, has set out the strategic directions for environmental policy.
• The New Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act will establish an integrated, performance-based system to control risks to the environment and to human health and safety.
• A major three-year project to assess organochlorine contamination and disposal options is under way, and progress has been made on resolving the difficult issue of liability and funding for clean-up of contaminated sites.
• A waste reduction policy has been adopted, and voluntary agreements have been negotiated with the oil and packaging industries.
• Cleaner production projects with a number of industries have demonstrated that there is good economic sense as well as environmental benefit in reducing waste.
• The sustainable land management strategy has been developed, and action to implement it is under way.
• New Zealand has signed the Framework Convention on Climate Change and measures to help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions have been developed.
• New Zealand has met its international obligations under the Montreal Protocol to help protect the ozone layer.
• The Sustainable Management Fund has been established to fund environment projects of significant national benefit.
• Work has begun on developing state of the environment indicators, and an environmental education strategy.

New Zealand has a reputation internationally for environmental leadership, forged through our stance on issues such as testing of nuclear weapons, driftnet fishing and Antarctica, and the innovative Resource Management Act. It also has an image, founded on perceptions of clear skies, clean water and beautiful natural landscapes, of being a "clean, green" country.

But our reputation for a quality environment and innovative resource management could easily be lost and would be extremely difficult to regain. That would affect not just people's image of New Zealand but also our attractiveness as a holiday destination and our export trade.

Our quality of life and our competitive advantage as a trading nation may ultimately depend on maintaining and being seen to maintain our strong position on environmental issues. That position depends on the practices of our businesses and professions as much as it does on the policies of government.

Internationally, people are calling on governments to address environmental issues effectively, to reduce pollution and waste, and to protect and conserve the natural environment. They also expect businesses to be environmentally responsible citizens - to minimise their impact on the environment and their use of natural resources.

Many leading international businesses are starting to question the environmental credentials of their suppliers. Contract decisions are being made on the basis of environmental performance. Whether self-interest or concern for future generations is the driving force, enlightened professionals will ensure that environmental considerations are fundamental to the values by which they operate.

Denise Church