Bluegreens

Environmental Programme Benefits Schools

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:29:31 +1200

Budget 2012: Environmental programme benefits schools

Budget 2012 will provide $7.6 million over the next four years for an education programme that gives schools and children a hands-on approach to looking after the environment, Environment Minister Amy Adams and M?ori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced today.

Enviroschools and Te Aho Tu Roa (the Maori immersion approach) encourage children, their schools and their families to think and act sustainably – at school, at home and in everyday life.

“I’m pleased that, in tight economic times, we can provide substantial funding for this valuable programme as a result of the Government’s confidence and supply agreement with the M?ori Party,” Ms Adams says.

“The Government is committed to improving and maintaining the quality of our environment and this funding will provide a valuable contribution towards the support of the Enviroschools programme.”

The $7.6m boost consolidates the interim budget negotiated by the M?ori Party in 2010 for Enviroschools and Te Aho Tu Roa.

“This funding from the Government enables Enviroschools to continue, and Te Aho Tu Roa to be further developed in Maori immersion schools, with support from programme partners that include private businesses and local government,” Dr Sharples says.

“Because Enviroschools and Te Aho Tu Roa involve students, schools, wh?nau and communities, the results of this investment will be long-lasting.”

Ms Adams adds: “Children are our future environmental leaders so it is heartening that so many of them want to be involved in this initiative.”

Students will undertake initiatives to improve their own schools, including reducing waste going into landfill, installing water tanks and planting their own vegetable gardens.

“The programme has a strong bicultural approach, recognising that M?ori perspectives and knowledge of the environment enrich the whole learning process,” Dr Sharples says.

Media contacts: Nathan Beaumont (Minister Adams) 021 243 8412

Andrew Robb (Minister Sharples) 029 482 8494

Greening New Zealand's Growth Report Released

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:45:19 +1300

The Green Growth Advisory Group was formed at the 2011 Bluegreens Forum; their Advisory Report 'Greening New Zealand's Growth' was released in early March at this year's Forum and can be downloaded below.

The group has a diverse membership drawn from both business and science sectors. Its focus is on exploring issues and policy options for greener growth in New Zealand. Specifically, the group was instructed to look at:

Helping exporters make the most of a 'clean, green New Zealand' brand
Making smarter use of innovation and technnology
Moving businesses to a lower carbon economy

Download Greening New Zealand's Growth:

Building a Bluegreen Future

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:04:05 +1300

Building a Bluegreen Future was released in early March at the Bluegreens Forum on the North Shore. It follows on from a similar document we published in 2006 on National's environmental ideas from when we were in opposition. This subsequently became the Blueprint for our work programme during our first term in Government. The updated policy paper reports on progress and sets out the next steps we intend to take this term.

The paper covers a very diverse range of topics from climate change to freshwater, from oceans to recycling, from transport to outdoor recreation. The purpose is to inform people of our direction and to get feedback on how we can best secure both a prosperous and sustainable future for New Zealand.

Resource Management

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:26:03 +1300

Improving resource management

Visit our full Resource Management policy

PR: John Key – RMA changes to support growth, create jobs

PR: Nick Smith – Clear choice for voters on RMA

Sensible management of our resources is critical to protect the environment and promote stronger economic growth, to create higher-paid jobs and build a more prosperous New Zealand.

National is committed to the underlying principles of the Resource Management Act (RMA), including sustainable management, an effects-based approach, and community involvement in decisions on public resources.

Simplifying and streamlining the RMA

National’s reform programme has been about simplifying and streamlining RMA processes, providing stronger central government direction, and addressing problems in areas such as infrastructure, water and aquaculture.

Our phase 1 reforms involved 150 amendments to simplify and streamline the RMA, to reduce costs, uncertainties, and delays. This has improved outcomes for the environment, supported business investment, and encouraged stronger economic growth.

Our phase 2 reforms will reduce delays around medium-sized projects, improve freshwater management, and better manage natural hazard risks. We will also better align the RMA’s planning processes with transport and local government planning.

We will continue to ensure that the sustainable use of our resources goes hand-in-hand with stronger economic growth.

National has:

Simplified and streamlined the Resource Management Act

Made 150 amendments to the RMA to reduce delays, uncertainties, and costs – the biggest reform of the RMA since 1991.

Removed frivolous, vexatious, and anti-competitive objections that can add thousands of dollars to consent applicants.

Removed the Ministerial veto on coastal consents.

Improved plan development and plan change processes, and resource consent processes.

Strengthened compliance by increasing penalties and providing for a wider range of enforcement.

Established the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) as a stand-alone Crown agency.

Appointed a Technical Advisory Group to review Sections 6 and 7 of the RMA.

Sped up consent processing

Established priority consenting through the EPA for projects of national significance, limiting the consent period to nine months.

Required councils to provide a discount for late processing of resource consents to reduce delays.

Provided greater Central Government direction

Developed National Policy Statements on:

Renewable energy generation
Fresh water management
Coastal management.

Introduced spatial planning for city development.

Supported Canterbury

Streamlined resource management processes to speed up land remediation work.

Fast-tracked Lyttelton Port reclamation for disposing earthquake rubble and supported the Burwood recycling facility and the re-use of demolished building material.

National will:

1. Ensure responsible resource management supports the government’s growth objectives

Introduce a six-month statutory time limit on the consenting of medium-sized projects.

Strengthen urban design provisions and simplify planning processes in line with the “Competitive Cities” discussion paper.

Further reform is needed to streamline the planning process and get durable outcomes for all stakeholders.

Review the criteria that persons exercising functions and powers under the RMA are required to recognise, provide for, and have particular regard to.

2. Simplify plan-making

Improve the plan-making process between resource management, transport, and local government.

3. Revise Sections 6 and 7 of the RMA

Better address natural hazard risks.

Better manage the growth of our urban environments.

Repeal and replace the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control, and Land Drainage Acts.

4. Improve water management

Progress the Land and Water Forum’s recommendations to improve freshwater management, quality, and allocation.

5. Encourage collaborative agreements

Provide incentives for parties in RMA proceedings to collaborate and agree on solutions to environmental problems.

Conservation

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:33:16 +1300

Protecting our natural environment

Our natural environment is a valuable resource that we need to preserve and protect.

National’s sound management of our natural landscapes and our focus on balancing our environmental responsibilities with our economic opportunities is helping to build a stronger economy and create jobs, through more tourism and increased primary production.

National is making the most of our great outdoors so that New Zealanders and visitors can enjoy our natural environment.

Public conservation land and oceans provide New Zealanders with economic, environmental, and recreational opportunities. Access to these underpins our way of life.

Getting the most from our conservation estate

Our conservation estate covers more than eight million hectares of land, including 34 marine reserves and six marine mammal sanctuaries.

Conservation is about preserving and protecting our natural resources now, and for the future, so that we can all appreciate and enjoy the benefits and beauty that the great outdoors has to offer.National has…

Visit our full Conservation policy

PR: Kate Wilkinson - Next steps to protect our natural environment

National has:.

Boosted the conservation estate

Announced nine new marine reserves.

Added 12,400 hectares in 14 areas to Schedule Four, our most valuable conservation land.

19,000 hectares of land protected in the QEII National Trust and Nga Whenua Rahui.

Working towards a new Kauri National Park in Northland’s Waipoua Forest.

Opened 10 new DOC camping grounds.

Better protected our great outdoors

New freedom camping laws to protect our outdoor lifestyle.

195km of new cycle trails being developed on Conservation land.

New Coastal Policy Statement giving district councils clearer guidance on protecting and managing our coastline.
140 experts working on the response to the Rena disaster, including ornithologists and vets with experience in treating oiled birds.

Protected our native species

Funded new self-resetting traps to better protect our native species from pests.

More community involvement in species recovery programmes.

Created a hunting advisor position at DOC and worked with United Future to introduce the Game Animal Council Bill to recognise the status of hunters and allow management of herds on conservation land.

National will:

1. Better protect our native species

Create a Biodiversity Forum to work towards the aspirational goal of a pest-free New Zealand.

Review New Zealand’s threatened species management framework.

Complete testing for self-resetting traps and fund research for 1080 alternatives, using the latest technology to protect native species.

Update the penalty regime for smuggling protected species.

Lift the maximum penalty to three years in prison.

Double the maximum fine to $200,000.

Pass revised Marine Reserves legislation to protect marine biodiversity.

2. Strengthen conservation

Progress the creation of a new Kauri National Park in the Waipoua Forest.

Progress the National Policy Statement on Biodiversity to help guide council planning and provide a strategic national direction.

Provide up to 200 places for 10-14 year olds to attend ‘conservation camp’.

Support DOC’s new business unit to establish more public-private business conservation partnerships.

Continue to encourage conservation on private land and progress tax benefits to encourage more conservation work, including pest control, on private land.

3. Clean up after the Rena disaster

Continue working with local government, iwi, relevant organisations, and volunteers to clean up our beaches and coastline, and to preserve local native species and wildlife.

4. Support outdoor recreation

Rename Conservation Boards as Conservation and Recreation Boards.

Restrict heli-hunting on the DOC estate.

Continue to work with hunters as important stakeholders in the outdoor environment.

Address the issue of non-resident fishing licences.

Environment

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:44:03 +1300

Practical solutions, better protection

Our environment is a valuable resource that we must preserve and protect. It’s a big part of our quality of life and it’s central to our international reputation, our primary sector, our growing tourism market, and our economy.

National believes sensible management of our resources can go hand-in-hand with faster economic growth and job creation. A stronger economy can better provide the means to restore, maintain, and enhance our environment.

Visit our full Environment & Climate Change policies.

PR: John Key - Practical, balanced plan for the environment

PR: Nick Smith - Phased ETS balances costs with reducing emissions

Improving our environment

In the past three years we have simplified resource management, improved air quality, helped minimise waste, and enhanced environmental governance.

We’ve put a plan in place to improve our rivers, lakes, and aquifers. We’ve introduced a more balanced approach to climate change. Our Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is helping New Zealand do its fair share to reduce emissions, protect our clean, green brand, and help transition to a low-carbon economy.

National will continue this work to improve the environment and build a cleaner, greener, brighter future for all New Zealanders.

National has:

Improved fresh water management

Embarked on our Fresh Start for Fresh Water programme.

Established the Land & Water Forum – made up of primary industry groups, environmental and recreational organisations, iwi, and other groups.

Adopted a National Policy Statement on Fresh Water Management.

Improved monitoring of compliance with water consents, and doubled penalties for non-compliance.

Passed regulations for metering 98 per cent of water takes.

Provided $265 million to clean up iconic waterways, such as Lake Taupo, the Rotorua Lakes, and the Waikato River.

Put in place practical controls on freedom camping.

Improved waste management

Implemented the Waste Minimisation Act.

Provided contestable funding to focus on collecting and recycling harmful waste.

Introduced a waste levy to provide better financial incentives to reduce waste and support smart waste recycling initiatives.

Provided $20 million for waste minimisation projects – helping communities and businesses to reduce waste.

Allowed for a flexible and efficient approach, through special legislation, to the waste generated by the Christchurch earthquakes.

Improved air quality

Launched Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart, a nationwide scheme to insulate and/ or provide clean heating for 188,500 homes.

Upgraded state houses with clean heating devices and insulation.

Introduced a new National Environmental Standard for air quality, which set pragmatic timeframes for improving air quality throughout New Zealand.

Improved environmental governance

Set up an advisory group on green growth, clean technology and a lower-carbon economy.

Removed regulatory functions from the Environment Ministry and focused it on policy advice and the implementation of our environmental programme.

Established the new Environmental Protection Authority to:

Better manage the Government’s regulatory responsibilities.

Consent major projects of national significance.

Tackled the dysfunctional regional council in Canterbury:

Completed a resource plan after 18 years.

Dramatically improved RMA compliance.

Adopted a clean-up plan for Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere.

Advanced work on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.

Improved resource management

Simplified and streamlined the RMA to reduce delays, uncertainties, and costs.

Established priority consenting for projects of national significance.

Cleaned up contaminated sites

Provided $15.2 million to clean up New Zealand’s most contaminated sites such as the Tui Mine at Te Aroha.

Set a national environment standard for contaminated soil.

Improved management of our seas

Launched a new National Policy Statement on Coastal Policy.

Introduced legislation to properly manage New Zealand’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone.

National will:

1. Advance our Fresh Start for Fresh Water programme

Clean up nationally significant lakes, rivers, and aquifers, working with stakeholders and local authorities.

Advance the Land & Water Forum work to set limits on water quality and minimum flows.

Strengthen monitoring and compliance of resource consents by regional councils to ensure greater consistency in performance.

2. Introduce new environment reporting systems

Pass a new Environment Reporting Bill. Under this new legislation, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment will independently report every five years on:

Water and air quality.
Coast and ocean management.

Waste management.

Native plants and animals.

Apply consistent measuring tools to the environment that create benchmarks and allow trends and progress to be clearly identified.

Rank rivers and lakes from cleanest to dirtiest in a national database against national standards, using scientific data.

3. Improve environmental management of our oceans

Pass Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) legislation, which has already been introduced to Parliament, by 1 July 2012.

Make the new Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) responsible for consenting, monitoring, and enforcing activities that impact on the EEZ, such as petroleum exploration, seabed mining, deepwater aquaculture, and marine energy development.

Introduce regulations to support new EEZ legislation.

Pass new Marine Reserves legislation

4. Improve management of waste and contaminated sites

Put in place the new National Environment Standard on contaminated sites.

Create a new national register of significant contaminated sites.

Set up a nationwide TV take-back programme to recycle old televisions in 2012 – prior to the digital switchover.

Continue to work with industry on improving management of electronic waste, working closely with Australia.

Climate Change

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:28:46 +1300

Tackling climate change and reducing emissions

National is committed to combating climate change and reducing New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Visit our full Environment & Climate Change policies.

PR: John Key - Practical, balanced plan for the environment

PR: Nick Smith - Phased ETS balances costs with reducing emissions

The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is the most important – but not only – policy tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help New Zealand transition to a low carbon economy.

The 2011 Review recommended improvements and refinements in the ETS.

National acknowledges the financial pressure households and businesses face with the ongoing global financial crisis.

We intend to slow the phasing in of the ETS. We recognise the Government's finances are under pressure and our changes to the ETS will be fiscally neutral.

National has:

Reduced New Zealand's emissions. We're now on track to comfortably meet our Kyoto obligations for 2008-12.

Amended Labour's ETS to strike a better balance between New Zealand's environmental and economic interests. We:

Halved the costs to households.
Reduced the impact on agriculture and small businesses.
Are encouraging renewable energy and tree planting,

Completed the first ETS review.

Adopted a National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation.

Set emissions targets for 2020 and 2050.

Established the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases and provided $45 million in funding. The Alliance now has scientists in 36 member countries working to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and increase food production.

Provided $50 million over 10 years to set up the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, to investigate practical ways to reduce greenhouse emissions from domestic farming.

National will:

Domestic policy

Extend the transitional implementation phase for the electricity, industrial, and transport sectors.

Maintain a fixed price option until at least 2015.

Introduce offsetting for pre-1990 forest land owners from 1 January 2013.

Review the second tranche of compensation for pre-1990 forest land owners faced with a loss of value because of restricted land use in light of the introduction of offsetting.

Review the 1 January 2015 legislated entry of agricultural emissions into the ETS in 2014.

Explore the 2011 Review Panel recommendations on providing the option of an averaging approach to carbon credits for post-1989 forest owners.

Advance trans-Tasman discussions on linking the New Zealand and Australian carbon markets for the post-2015 period.

Work with Local Government New Zealand on ETS exemptions for small, unused landfills.

Work with the refrigeration industry on the lowest-cost method of including synthetic gases in the ETS alongside existing ozone protection regulations.

International policy

Support the development of a comprehensive international agreement to succeed Kyoto. This should seek to reduce emissions in a balanced and fair way that recognises all significant emitters need to be part of the solution.

Continue to negotiate a set of international rules that recognise the unique aspects of our plantation-forestry businesses.

Advocate for international acceptance of more flexible land-use rules where this can achieve greater economic returns with no detrimental environmental outcomes.

Advocate for an international agreement that requires all major emitters to reduce their emission levels over time.

Support development of the Cancun Accord as the basis for ongoing global action.

Complementary measures

Put in place the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Green Growth Initiatives.

Improve commercial building stock.

Encourage the adoption of electric car technologies.

Cleaning up contaminated sites and better protecting our oceans

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:43:43 +1200

We've recently made two major announcements about cleaning up contaminated sites and providing better protecting our oceans.

Steps toward cleaning up contaminated sites

New Zealand has a nasty legacy of sites left contaminated from old mines, gas works, timber treatment yards, and chemical works. We need better laws, more open information, and more consistent management.

That's why National has announced a comprehensive work programme with the Greens to clean up New Zealand’s contaminated sites.

We're committing $15.2 million to clean-up the Tui Mine dam in the Coromandel. We've also announced a new national environment standard that will help provide clear rules for councils to manage public health risks.

We're also supporting the compilation of regional registers of contaminated sites, a national register of priority sites, and improving the legislative framework. Our goal is a safer and cleaner New Zealand.

Better protecting our oceans

New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is an important part of our environment and needs protecting. That's why we're introducing new laws to manage the environmental effects of offshore activities like petroleum exploration and mining.

This area of ocean, 20-times New Zealand's land area offers significant economic opportunities, but robust laws must be in place to protect the environment.

National will introduce a new bill into Parliament that will make the Environmental Protection Authority responsible for monitoring activities and enforcement. All consents will require public notification and consultation, and an environmental impact assessment. Most of all it will provide general duty to avoid or remedy adverse environmental effects of any activity in the EEZ and the Extended Continental Shelf.

This is part of our Bluegreen agenda to grow the economy while protecting the environment.

Keep in touch

Join us on Facebook or keep up-to-date on our website.

Associated Media Releases:

Govt works with Greens on contaminated sites

Tui Mine clean-up funding announced

New national standard on contaminated soil

Questions and Answers (PDF)

Workplan for Contaminated Sites

Environmental protection law for oceans announced

EDS National Conference – The Bluegreen Agenda

"Our National Interests and the ETS"

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:14:03 +1200

Hon Dr Nick Smith
Minister for Climate Change Issues

June 2010

Introduction

I have been fortunate to have held many portfolios during my 20 year Parliamentary career but none get close to the complexity and difficulty posed by climate change and the ETS. Few issues spark as much passion or divergence of views as climate change. There is debate over the science, the economics and over the international politics of who should do what and when. It’s not something you can explain in a 30 second sound bite.

Today, I want to set out why it's in New Zealand's interests on 1 July for your Government to be introducing the transport, electricity and industrial sectors into our moderated emissions trading scheme. It was inevitable that implementing the next phase of the ETS on 1 July would come with its share of contention. This is the same challenge faced by every country in the world that has, or is, putting a price on emissions.

The Science

First, can I give you the Government’s view on the science. We don’t claim a consensus or a perfect scientific understanding of the earth’s climate system. But we are satisfied that enough is known to be of concern and that action is justified to curb our growth in emissions. This is about sound risk management. New Zealanders expect governments to prudently manage risk of phenomena like earthquakes. We all pay EQC levies even though we may not need the billions that have been collected. We see managing the risk of climate change in a similar context.

The global problem is that mankind is burning fossil fuels and clearing forests at increasing rates, and this is changing the chemical composition of the atmosphere. CO2 levels are up 35% on pre-industrial levels already. As developing countries industrialise, these levels are set to be double by 2050 and double again by 2100.

To put our fossil fuel emissions in perspective, every New Zealander emits an average nine tonnes per person per year. Nine tonnes of CO2 is three times the volume of this auditorium. That's each year, and is for every one of us. And the science tells us that the CO2 will be around in the atmosphere for thousands of years. It would be a brave person who would say we can carry on indefinitely doing this and expect it to have no effect on the atmosphere or climate. The considered science tells us it's a problem.

The International Politics

The international politics of this issue is as hard as the science. Two stark facts dominate the global debate. 80% of the increase to date has been caused by developed countries that make up only 20% of the population. This is why there is such a rigid position from developing countries that we must move first to curb our emissions. They say: “You caused the problem, you're wealthier, you need to take the lead”. It's on this basis that Kyoto was stitched together. But there is an equally compelling statistic on the future. More than 80% of the increase in emissions this century will come from developing countries. That's why countries such as China, India and Brazil are pivotal to the post-Kyoto framework.

The Global Research Alliance

That's also why the Global Research Alliance on agricultural emissions initiated by New Zealand is so important. It is a tribute to the work of the Prime Minister, Tim Groser and David Carter that so many countries have come on board. This is an area where it makes sense for New Zealand to take a global leadership role on climate change. There are multi-billion dollar research budgets going into alternative transport, electricity and industrial technologies, but far too little in the agriculture emissions space. There is a massive problem as to how the world is going to feed an additional three billion people by 2050 without further increases in greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Apart from Labour, the Global Research Alliance enjoys broad public and political support.

The Domestic Politics

The ETS is more challenging. People question the merits of a market tool and their eyes glaze over at the notion of trading in something as nebulous as carbon credits. Others are unconvinced that we should do anything unless the rest of the world is also acting, and are particularly nervous following the political problems in Australia of them making progress. We have Labour and the Greens arguing our ETS is too soft, too slow, and too generous to business. ACT has an intriguing take on the ETS.

ACT has championed the cause of the Kyoto forest owners. They argue that carbon credits are a "property right", "belonging to those who planted them" and must not be "confiscated". That's fair enough, but paying these out is set to cost about $1.6 billion over the Kyoto period until 2013. It's odd then for ACT to argue the carbon debits that rest with emitters under Kyoto through to 2013 don't belong to them and must be paid for entirely by the taxpayer. This is the 'socialise your losses, capitalise your gains' ETS. It is a recipe for a Greek-style fiscal tragedy.

New Zealand's Interests

The question we must answer in proceeding with the ETS on 1 July is why it makes sense for New Zealand. There are good strategic reasons for an ETS as a small trading nation that has branded itself as clean and green. Just read The Economist's editorial in March highlighting the risk of a backlash over our "100% Pure" brand and our significant increase in emissions. We must be aware of the power of well-heeled consumers who are our most profitable customers. The food miles argument is the forerunner to a bigger debate. Doing our bit now to curb emissions growth puts us in the right space long term to protect our brand and market access.

The world is set on a path to constraining emissions. At some point we are going to have to adapt to this. The sooner New Zealand starts that process, the easier the transition will be. And the most efficient way to make that transition is through an ETS.

Renewable Energy

Take the electricity sector. It's been the source of our greatest percentage increase in emissions – up 120% since 1990. New power plants have a life of at least 30 or 40 years. It's in New Zealand's interests that we invest in renewables in preference to new thermal generation, and the ETS is the best tool to deliver this. Labour failed abysmally in this area. Two thirds of the new generation capacity built during the last decade was gas and diesel, and the use of coal more than doubled. The ETS is shifting investments. More than three-quarters of the new consents lodged since we became Government are for renewable wind, geothermal, hydro and marine generation projects.

Forestry Incentives

The price signals are equally crucial for the forest sector. New Zealand lost 30,000 hectares of trees in Labour's last four years in office, more than in any period since records began in the 1930s. Their confusing and shifting policies on the ETS contributed to this. Again, like electricity these are long-term investments that need certainty. In 2009, the deforestation stopped and there was a small gain in forest area of 500 hectares. Forester's intentions indicate increased plantings of 4700 hectares this year, 5700 hectares next year, and still more of 7700 hectares in 2012. This confidence will be lost if we blink on the ETS, yet these plantings are crucial to New Zealand's long-term climate change targets.

Honouring Our Commitments

Proceeding with the ETS is also about honouring our word to voters, to investors and to the international community. We campaigned quite explicitly on a policy of proceeding with a moderated ETS in 2010. We've halved the cost to businesses and consumers. We've slowed the pace, deferring sector entry dates. We've removed the disincentives for businesses to grow and ensured that small and medium businesses are not discriminated against in the allocations to trade exposed businesses. We’ve put regular reviews in the law in 2011 and regularly thereafter so we can reassess our approach relative to international progress and the latest science.

It's also important we honour our word to foresters. Both National and Labour Government's exhorted them to plant trees with the promise they would receive the benefit of the carbon credits.

New Zealand's emissions are up 23% on 1990 levels and the only reason we don't face a whopping great Kyoto deficit is these plantings. Investment confidence requires we honour our word.

The ETS is also crucial to meeting our Kyoto target. Without the scheme, we would exceed it by 11 million tonnes. As a small trading nation, we more than most rely on countries honouring their international commitments. Regardless of whether you like Kyoto or not, it is in New Zealand's interests that we honour those commitments.

Alternative to an ETS

We could meet our Kyoto commitments with other policies. You could regulate and tell citizens what sort of light bulbs they must use, how much water they can have in their shower, what sort of cars they can buy and tell business what sort of power plants they must build. An ETS encourages emissions reductions without reverting to a Nanny State.

ETS Is Not A Tax

An ETS is also quite different from a carbon tax which would generate billions of dollars in revenue for the Government. The ETS involves payments from polluters to those who reduce emissions mainly foresters. The difference is highlighted by the fact that post-1989 foresters will receive $1600 million in carbon credits in the Kyoto period to 2013 whereas the cost to business and consumers will be $900 million – leaving about $700 million during the Kyoto period to be met by the Government. Far from the ETS scheme being a tax in disguise it will actually cost the Government money.

Australian's Still Face Kyoto Costs

Recent events in Australia where they have not been able to get their ETS through their Senate has people wrongly assuming there will be no cost for Australian businesses and consumers. The Rudd Government has committed another $5.1 billion to clean energy initiatives. This money, of course, has to come out of the pocket of Australian consumers and businesses. They are also taking a regulatory approach that requires all power companies to invest heavily in converting to renewable electricity. The cost per unit of power of these requirements is actually greater than the cost of the New Zealand ETS.

The crucial point here is that countries face a Kyoto cost either as taxpayers or as emitters, and all of the economic advice is that it is more efficient and cost effective to put the cost on those who can do something about how much they emit.

New Zealand Is Not Leading The World

A common complaint with our policy is that the ETS is now leading the world. This is completely untrue. 29 of the 38 countries with Kyoto commitments have an ETS. That's more than three quarters - the bulk who are in the EU. The EU scheme covers 43% of their emissions, as compared to 23% of ours. Theirs has been imposing costs on businesses and consumers since 2005 – ours starts in 2010. It's worth noting that the EU's per capita emissions are about half ours and are 9% below 1990 levels as compared to our 23% increase. The truth is we are closer to leading the developed world in increasing our emissions than in reducing them.

Progress internationally on climate change is continuing to advance. President Obama stated on Friday his ambition to have the Senate pass their cap and trade scheme, already approved in the House, by years end. Already in the US there are state schemes operating. The 10 north-eastern states are already part of a cap and trade scheme, and a further 13 have schemes at various stages of development. Four Canadian provinces have similar schemes. Japan too has announced plans to make progress on the same sort of approach.

The claim of New Zealand leading the world would be true if we were insisting on implementing an all gases, all sectors scheme on 1 July. We're not. The scheme only provides for a half-obligation. Our plans to move to a full obligation in 2013 and to include additional sectors are conditional on progress being made internationally. We've got reviews of the ETS in our legislation scheduled for 2011 and regularly thereafter. A key test will be in ensuring New Zealand does not carry an unfair burden of the cost of constraining emissions and that our approach takes the least cost way of meeting our international obligations.

National Has Halved ETS Costs

Our Government has halved the costs to businesses and consumers of Labour’s ETS, with an increase of about 3.5 cents a litre on fuel and 5% on the price of power. These cost impacts need to be kept in context. The cost to an average dairy farm of the fuel, power and processing impacts of the ETS is 0.5% of returns. The ETS will impose less cost on the average farmer than a 0.1% increase in interest rates.

Opportunities To Offset ETS Costs

The obvious way a farmer could offset the cost of the ETS for the average farm is to plant on unproductive areas of the farm in forest. An area of only 6 hectares would offset the 1 July 2010 electricity and power costs of the ETS by generating $4000 per year over 30 years in carbon credits.

There are many new technologies available to reduce on farm energy costs. For example, the installation of heat pump technology in the dairy shed can deliver more than $2000 a year in savings in electricity. Studies of irrigation also show thousands of dollars of savings from modest efficiency improvements in systems.

We've got a big job ahead over the next two months in communicating to households not just the cost of the ETS, but the opportunities to make energy efficiencies and savings. For instance just correcting the tyre pressure on the average car can save $130 per year. Changing driving habits for the average motorist can save $300 a year. The Government is helping to offset the ETS cost for a household by providing an $1800 home insulation grant and a $1000 grant for solar hot water systems. These would each save an average household $400 a year in energy costs, greatly exceeding the ETS costs of a $165 per home.

Business Needs Steady, Consistent Approach

One of the reasons our emissions growth compares so poorly to other countries is that for two decades public policy has been all over the paddock. We in National proposed a carbon tax in 1994, but then switched to work on an ETS in 1999. Labour proposed a carbon tax in 2004, and then switched to a very ambitious ETS in 2006. We campaigned and have delivered on a much more moderate and realistic ETS. It's no surprise Business New Zealand and the newspaper editorials from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin are saying stay the course. Businesses and the economy need a steady and consistent approach, and that's what your Government is delivering.

Conclusion

We Kiwis value our clean green brand and want to be part of the solution, and not the problem, on climate change. We don't want to lead the world in emissions growth anymore than leading the world in emissions cuts. We know we need to be planting more trees. We know we should be building more renewable power stations. And we know we should be investing more in energy efficiency. Doing nothing is not an option. Our very moderate ETS is the sensible way for a National government to make progress.

ENDS

MP Proposes Collaborative Approach for Mackenzie

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:52:54 +1300

Jacqui Dean
MP for Waitaki

29 January 2011 Media Statement

The best way forward for determining the future of the iconic Mackenzie/Omarama Basin is a collaborative approach led by a new Trust involving all the key interests, Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean told the Bluegreens Forum in Akaroa today.

“The Mackenzie Basin is an iconic and treasured part of New Zealand but there are real pressures and tensions over its future. The risk is that these will be fought out in years of divisive legal battles under differing processes over water, land use and tenure review. I think there is sufficient good will and common values to bring the key parties together to develop a shared vision for the basin.”

“I am in the process of establishing the Mackenzie Sustainable Futures Trust and am finalising the terms of reference with respective parties to progress the plan. The key to its success will be a broad membership, wide buy-in and a real commitment of the respective parties to working together on a balanced plan that incorporates economic development and environmental sustainability. We need to recognise that there are important land owner’s rights as well as broader public environmental values in the Mackenziethat need to be brought together to achieve the best way forward for the basin.”

Mrs Dean said the trust’s working group would comprise people who lived in the area and others with a strong association to the area. She said the Trust concept had been discussed with a wide range of groups who had identified their interest in the collaborative approach including Federated Farmers, Ngai Tahu, irrigation interests, power companies Meridian and Genesis, Fish and Game, environment and conservation groups as well as the Mackenzie, Waitaki Councils and ECAN.

“There is strong support for this initiative but we need to get the detail right. The Trust’s establishment aims to achieve a high level integration of land and water development to guide other processes, avoid duplication and work to keep everyone informed.”

“This new Trust, and the collaborative approach it would advance, is based on the success of initiatives like the Fiordland Guardians and the Land and Water Forum where good outcomes have been achieved by parties coming together to develop a common vision for the future.”

“I have also discussed this proposal with Environment Minister Nick Smith who is prepared to give his support if there is strong local buy-in to the process.”

“Full agreement to this innovative approach has not yet been achieved. I will be working hard in February to get the details finalised. I am excited by the potential of this innovative approach to provide a cohesive vision for the future of the Mackenzie.”

ENDS

Strong line-up for 12th Bluegreens Forum

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:45:15 +1300

Strong line-up for 12th Bluegreens Forum

National’s Bluegreens gathered this weekend in Akaroa for their 12th annual forum with important announcements scheduled to be made by Ministers of Finance, Environment and Conservation.

“Bluegreens were founded over a decade ago by a group of motivated New Zealanders who support strong economic policy and growth but want this carefully married with policies that protect New Zealand’s natural environment”, National’s Bluegreen Convenor Andrew von Dadelszen said.

“We worked hard in the past decade on developing an innovative set of ideas to advance better environmental management and which would support a growing economy. We are excited about the opportunity to put these ideas into practice in Government. We are looking forward to announcements by Ministers and MPs over the weekend on air quality, green growth, biodiversity, marine conservation, the future of the McKenzie and on reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.”

“We will be exploring new ideas on the future over the weekend with panel discussions on water, green business, the coast and oceans and climate change.”

“We appreciate the participation and input from Ngai Tahu, the Land and Water Forum, Greenpeace, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the Environment Defence Society and the chair of the UN Kyoto Protocol Negotiations, Adrian Macey.”

“The Bluegreens are a policy advisory group of the New Zealand National Party founded in 1998 so that in the MMP environment National’s thinking and policy on environment and conservation issues would be strengthened.”

ENDS

Godwits return – Christchurch celebrates!

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:44:18 +1300

The Christ Church Cathedral bells rang at noon on Saturday to celebrate the return of the first bar-tailed godwits which arrived in Christchurch for the summer.

The birds fly from Alaska to New Zealand each year and were seen on the Avon-Heathcote estuary last Thursday.

- Nicky Wagner

White Flippered Penguin Boulder Bay Watch

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:38:44 +1300

Sunday was a stunningly beautiful day in Canterbury – perfect for visiting the white-flippered penguins at Harris Bay, near Christchurch.

The penguin is endemic to Canterbury and protected under the wildlife Act 1953. It breeds only on Banks Peninsula and Motunau Island in Pegasus Bay. The Banks Peninsula sub population has declined due to predation by ferrets, stoats, cats and dogs.

Monitored and protected populations at Harris bay and Flea Bay are showing yearly increases in bird populations due to the diligence of dedicated members of the public. The White-flippered penguin is classed as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of nature and has been assigned a top priority conservation rating by the Department of Conservation.

Chris Challis and Dave Evans showed us over the colony and introduced us to a couple of breeding pairs.

Chris has been working with white-flippered penguins for over 30 years and is absolutely dedicated to building the colony in Harris bay. His work is an inspiration to conservationists everywhere!

- Nicky Wagner

Oamaru Stream planting

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:40:46 +1200

Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean and Waitaki deputy mayor Gary Kircher, also Waitaki National Party branch chair, plant shrubs on the banks of the Oamaru Stream behind the Forrestor Gallery as their contribution towards Conservation Week 2010.

Quake survivors ready to hatch for Conservation Week

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:23:40 +1200

Two kiwi eggs that survived the Canterbury earthquake in their incubator at Christchurch’s Willowbank Wildlife Reserve are getting ready to hatch, right as New Zealanders prepare to celebrate Conservation Week, says Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson.

“One of the rowi chicks has already been nicknamed Richter and could emerge from its shell anytime between now and Sunday.

“These new arrivals will no doubt bring a welcome smile to the faces of so many people who need it after a torrid week,” Ms Wilkinson says.

“It’s also perfect timing as we gear up for Conservation Week, which kicks off on Sunday.

“Over 150 community events are being hosted all over the country to encourage New Zealanders to get involved in conservation.

“On Sunday Auckland Zoo will be hosting a family day; while in Wellington there will be an opportunity to swap your worst weed for a native plant.

“At the same time there’s a tree planting planned at Kaiteriteri in Abel Tasman National Park and the Motu Kiwi Creche is having a working bee in Gisborne.

“New Zealanders love their country and Conservation Week provides mountains of opportunities to learn more about our natural heritage and take part in conservation projects.

“I would encourage everyone to take part in a local event over the next week.”

Details of all the events can be found for each region at http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation-week-home/whats-happening/