NEW ZEALAND Law and Practice Contributed by: Josh Williams, Anderson Lloyd
are addressed is likely to evolve as the new planning framework is implemented. 2.4 Key Policy/Regulatory Authorities Key Regulatory Bodies Ministry for the Environment The Ministry for the Environment is responsible for several key aspects of the country’s environmental management, including: • conducting research, analysis and consultation processes to inform policy developments, includ - ing advising on and implementing the ERP and the NAP; • leading and coordinating climate change policy efforts in New Zealand, including those to address climate change mitigation, adaptation and resil - ience; and • collecting and analysing data on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts in New Zealand, including producing national greenhouse gas inventories and reports on progress towards meeting emissions reduction targets. Environmental Protection Authority The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is responsible for: • administering and regulating the ETS, including setting emission unit caps, managing the registry, monitoring compliance, and providing guidance to participants in the ETS; and • assessing and providing approval for certain applications regarding activities that have potential environmental impacts, including those related to climate change. Climate Change Commission The Climate Change Commission is not a regulatory body but an independent Crown entity that advises the government on climate change policy within the framework of the CCRA. Its purpose is to: • provide independent, expert advice to the gov - ernment on mitigating climate change (including through reducing emissions of greenhouse gases) and adapting to the effects of climate change, including preparation of the NCCRA; and
• monitor and review the government’s progress towards its emissions reduction and adaptation goals. Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment & Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employ - ment implements policies that reduce emissions in the energy and industry sectors, and oversees the EECA, the agency responsible for New Zealand’s transition towards a sustainable energy system (underpinned by clean energy use). In particular, the EECA is respon - sible for: • ensuring that products and vehicles sold in New Zealand meet energy and fuel efficiency standards; and • educating New Zealanders on climate change issues and on leading low-carbon lives through its “Gen Less” brand. Ministry for Primary Industries The Ministry for Primary Industries implements and regulates policies in the primary sector. This includes: • providing guidance related to the eligibility, accounting, and reporting of emissions offsets through forestry and other sequestration activities; and • developing an emissions pricing system for the Regional and district councils are the regulatory authorities at “local” government level that implement the RMA through the development of regional policy statements, regional plans, and district plans, and decisions on resource consent applications. These councils’ decisions on both plans and consents can be appealed to the Environment Court. Proposals deemed to be of national significance may be “called in” to be determined directly by either the Environment Court or a Board of Inquiry appointed by the Environ - mental Protection Agency. There are also other bespoke plan-making and con - senting processes that might see a change to a plan, agricultural sector. Local government
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