Natural Resource Sector

The Ministry works with other government agencies to ensure that a strategic and integrated approach is taken to managing natural resources. The Natural Resource Sector (NRS) Network is led by the Ministry for the Environment and also involves the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry for Economic Development, the Department of Conservation, the Treasury, State Services Commission, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Land Information New Zealand, and Te Puni Kökiri.

The Ministry contributed to a cross-agency Environmental Sustainability brief for the incoming government. This brief identified common reform elements and objectives and discussed how to progress six critical natural resource management issues for New Zealand. The government has since embarked on a series of reforms to the Resource Management Act (RMA) and related legislation. The Ministry has been involved in the Phase One Simplifying and Streamlining Amendment Bill and in policy work on the Phase Two RMA reforms.

Particular areas of interest include aquaculture reform (discussed above), establishing an Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and improving the management of freshwater resources. The Ministry also contributes to other related projects, such as climate change policy and Treaty settlement work, and to the development of shared outcomes, goals and principles for natural resource management.