The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment addressed the Environmental Defence Society Annual Conference identifying that concurrent resource management and local government reforms risk creating “an expensive mess” if catchments are fragmented.

Following discussions last week on the fringes of the EDS Conference, the Minister of Conservation has agreed to substantial changes to the Conservation Amendment Bill.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment addressed the Catchment Communities Aotearoa National Forum identifying the pivotal role of catchment groups in tackling environmental challenges in rural New Zealand.

The Natural Environment Bill was introduced on December 9, 2025 with the aim of managing impacts from the use of natural resources and protect the environment from harm.

The Government has opened consultation on proposed updates to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) settings and regulations.

The latest Energy Quarterly data release from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) shows renewables generated 94.5% of all electricity in the March 2026 quarter, up from 83.2% in the same quarter last year.

The Government has released its formal response to the independent National Infrastructure Plan, setting out how it will respond to the Infrastructure Commission’s sixteen recommendations.

EDS has lodged a submission supporting Fisheries New Zealand’s proposals for stronger protections for Hauraki Gulf shellfish across the Auckland-Coromandel region.

The Government has introduced legislation to change New Zealand’s outdated environmental reporting regime and improve decision-making on the country’s environmental considerations.

This edition comes at an important point in the transition to New Zealand’s new planning system. Work is underway to build a more effective, nationally consistent system that supports housing and infrastructure, while protecting what matters to New Zealanders – including our natural environment.

The Government has approved the following new national environmental standards as part of the Resource Management Act 1991 National Direction Programme.

The Climate Change Commission is inviting evidence and insights to inform an update of its 2024 advice on emissions budgets.