Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2009

Commissioner's Overview

This financial year has been both busy and productive. While last year was dominated by advice to Select Committees on bills and inquiries, this year has been marked by the publication of three reports on major investigations.

The first was the investigation into the clean-up of New Zealand’s worst contaminated site at Mapua near Nelson. While the land has been remediated, there were some real lessons to be learned from the process. One such lesson was the inappropriateness of a policy agency taking on such an operational role, and this has been cited as a reason for the creation of an Environmental Protection Authority. I was pleased to see the thorough results from the Site Auditor, released in July. It gives me confidence that the site can now be used by local residents.

The second was the investigation into the significant changes in land use occurring in the high country of the South Island. These changes are partly driven by the ‘tenure reviews’ of the high country runs leased from the Crown. Since our report was published, it is pleasing to see the developing interest in Queen Elizabeth II covenants among the high country farmers. I remain concerned about the runaway spread of weeds including wilding pines, and the potential threat to water quality in some of our iconic high country lakes.

The third major investigation was into smart electricity meters, and attracted considerable media coverage. There are many environmental impacts associated with energy, and I have a long-standing interest in clever ways of reducing energy consumption in order to reduce the associated environmental impacts. Smart meters have real potential here, but leadership is required. My chief concern is that many thousands of new electronic meters are being installed that lack the capability to reduce electricity consumption, and thereby reduce the environmental impacts associated with electricity generation and transmission.

Investigations into mining, water quality and transport fuels are well underway, and I expect to report to Parliament on these issues in the coming months. Climate change is the environmental challenge that dwarfs all others. In the last financial year, we became involved with the Emissions Trading Scheme in several ways, including advising on the bill and critiquing draft regulations on carbon storage in indigenous forests. The current Government is reviewing the scheme, and in January, I was invited to act as an independent adviser to the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee. This has required a significant investment of staff time due to the complexity of the issues, but I anticipate ongoing work in the office related to this extremely important legislation.

This year has also seen the first round of amendments to the Resource Management Act. I anticipate taking a strong interest in the further rounds of amendments, since significant changes to environmental agencies have been broached, and my first function under the Environment Act 1986 is to “review … the system of agencies and processes…” that manage the environment.

During this year, we have worked hard at increasing the value of reports and advice y both briefing MPs and communicating with a wider audience through opinion pieces in major newspapers. The level of interest and debate that has followed is rewarding. My staff are well aware of the pressure I put on them to ensure that my recommendations can lead to real change for the better, but we have no monopoly on wisdom or knowledge. As time allows, I continue to visit regions around the country, and there is no substitute for seeing problems ‘on the ground’.

In the office, we actively practise a culture of continuing improvement. I sought no budget increase for this year or the coming year, and cost-effectiveness is a guiding principle. The conversion of the office to open plan has been very successful, and has clearly increased productivity by supporting a collegial style of working.

I am pleased to present this annual report and look forward with my hard-working and talented team to a productive 2009/10.

Dr Jan Wright

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment