The PCE has expressed his concerns about the Local Government (Water Services) Bill in his submission to the Finance and Expenditure Committee. He points out that in attempting to simplify the treatment of stormwater and wastewater, the Bill is proposing an inflexible, one-size-fits-all approach that does not account for New Zealand’s regional and local differences.

MfE released new climate projections last year, making the data publicly available at no charge for the first time. The projections show potential changes to temperature, wind and rainfall over the rest of the century.

They can now be accessed as a downloadable dataset, a map, or a summary dashboard.

On Thursday 13 February 2025, the Government released documents relating to Cabinet decisions on the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill.

Several regulatory changes are required each year to keep the NZ ETS operating efficiently. Smelting aluminium is an eligible industrial activity under the Climate Change Response Act 2002 and the Climate Change (Eligible Industrial Activities) Regulations 2010 because it is an emissions-intensive activity and there is international trade.

This package, released by MfE on 7 February 2025, has Cabinet Minutes and a Cabinet Paper for reforming the resource management system.

This newsletter provides a regular update from the Ministry for the Environment to people and organisations with an interest in the resource management system.

From Friday 7 February, Fast-track applications for referral or for projects listed in Schedule 2 of the Act will be accepted. An application cannot proceed until both application lodgement and payments are completed.

On 8 November 2024, the Environment Select Committee wrote to the Climate Change Commission seeking evidence on the petition of Alex Johnston to phase out industrial free allocation under the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has made a submission to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee on the proposed Offshore Renewable Energy Bill.

The Government has announced Aotearoa New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement. The target aims to reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035.

Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee conducted an Inquiry into Climate Adaptation which was published in October 2024.

Separately, the Climate Change Commission provided a progress report on the implementation and effectiveness of Aotearoa New Zealand's first national adaptation plan in August 2024.

The Government has responded to both reports.

The global traffic engineering and New Zealand resource management communities are mourning the loss of Peter McCombs, a trailblazer whose remarkable career of 50+ years helped shape the transportation landscape in New Zealand and beyond. Peter passed away on January 8 2025.