Our environment, 
     your say
     Overview of consultations
                     Our towns, cities and rural areas, and our rivers, lakes and landscapes are where we  
                     live, work and play. They are part of our identity and way of life. They are our taonga. 
                     While we enjoy the benefits of our environment, the way we live is having a serious 
                     impact on it. If we act together we can solve our environmental challenges. 
                     The Government is proposing some changes to rules and regulations to protect                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Our changing 
                     our environment and transition to a sustainable, low-emissions future.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   climate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       How we use                                                                                                                                               We all play our part to reduce 
                     These changes aim to support decisions and actions by us all – individuals, communities,                                                                                                                                                                                          our land                                                                                                                                                 emissions and respond to the 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                effects of climate change.
                     iwi/Māori, business, the primary sector, local and central government.                                                                                                                                                                                                              Our cities have room to                                                                                                                                All communities are supported 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         grow, flourish, and respond                                                                                                                             in the transition to a low              Our ecosystems 
                     The infographic and table on the opposite page describe the changes, the future they                                                                                                                                                                                                to the changing needs of                                                                                                                               emissions economy.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         our communities.                                                                                                                                                                               and biodiversity
                     seek to create and how each proposal contributes – individually and together.                                                                                                                                                                                                       Our farming is sustainable                                                                                                                                                                       We all work together to 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         and enriches wellbeing in                                                                                                                                                                        protect and restore our 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         our communities.                                                                                                                                                                                 biodiversity.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         We have highly productive                                                                                                                                                                        We live on our land in a way 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         available land to feed ourselves                                                                                                                                                                 that allows our indigenous 
                                                                                                     „  Taking water changes river flows which affects                                                                                                                                                   and support our economy.                                                                                                                                                                         species and ecosystems 
                     We want to hear from you                                                            our freshwater ecosystems.                                                                                  Pollution from                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       to thrive.  
                     Consultation is a way for us to better understand a                             „  The way we fish is affecting the health of our                                                               our activities
                     range of perspectives and knowledge on what will                                    ocean environment.                                                                                            We have improved the health 
                     make these changes achieve the best outcomes for                                „  New Zealand has high greenhouse gas emissions                                                                  of our waterways by reducing 
                     New Zealand.                                                                                                                                                                                      pollution from urban and 
                                                                                                         per person.                                                                                                   rural sources.
                     Over the coming months we will be consulting on a                               „  Climate change is already affecting Aotearoa                                                                   We have reduced risks to our 
                     number of proposed policies. This will allow us to test                             New Zealand.                                                                                                  environment by producing 
                     how they work as a whole to best support decisions,                                                                                                                                               less waste and by managing                                                                                               How we use our 
                     and to assess their combined impact.                                            www.mfe.govt.nz/environment-aotearoa-2019-                                                                        harmful chemicals.                                                                                                       freshwater and 
                                                                                                     overview
                     We need your help. We want to understand your                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              marine resources
                     views and ideas.                                                                The environment is fundamental to our                                                                                                                                                                                                        Our freshwater and marine 
                                                                                                     wellbeing and our choices matter.                                                                                                                                                                                                            ecosystems are healthy and 
                                                                                                     Changes to our environment can have ripple effects                                                                                                                                                                                           we use them sustainably to 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  support our communities.
                     Why these consultations                                                         on our health, jobs and income, and cultural identity.  
                                                                                                     For example, a change in land use near a river may lead 
                     matter                                                                          to a change in water quality. This affects our access to 
                                                                                                     clean drinking water, safe swimming and a healthy river 
                     The way we live is having a serious                                             that can support our communities. 
                     impact on our environment.                                                      Using our land and water well will be crucial to 
                     Our state of the environment report Environment                                 sustaining a thriving economy and resilient communities 
                     Aotearoa 2019 (EA2019) showed our environment                                   into the future, and providing choices about how and 
                     is under pressure in many places – in our towns and                             where we live.
                     cities, rivers and oceans. The proposed changes help  
                     to address the issues raised in EA2019.                                                 Questions you may 
                     EA2019 told us:
                     „  Our native plants, animals and ecosystems are                                        like to think about
                         under threat.
                     „  Changes to the vegetation on our land are                                            „  If we want to protect our environment and 
                         degrading the soil and water.                                                          transition to a sustainable, low-emissions 
                                                                                                                future, what needs to change?
                     „  Urban growth is reducing versatile land and                                          „  What would make this easier? 
                         native biodiversity.
                     „  Our waterways are polluted in farming areas.                                         There are also specific questions in each of 
                     „  Our environment is polluted in urban areas.                                          the consultation discussion documents.
                     Shaping our future together
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Our changing 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            climate
                                                                                                     How we use                                                                                                                                               We all play our part to reduce 
                                                                                                     our land                                                                                                                                                 emissions and respond to the 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              effects of climate change.
                                                                                                       Our cities have room to                                                                                                                                All communities are supported 
                                                                                                       grow, flourish, and respond                                                                                                                             in the transition to a low             Our ecosystems 
                                                                                                       to the changing needs of                                                                                                                               emissions economy.
                                                                                                       our communities.                                                                                                                                                                              and biodiversity
                                                                                                       Our farming is sustainable                                                                                                                                                                      We all work together to 
                                                                                                       and enriches wellbeing in                                                                                                                                                                       protect and restore our 
                                                                                                       our communities.                                                                                                                                                                                biodiversity.
                                                                                                       We have highly productive                                                                                                                                                                       We live on our land in a way 
                                                                                                       available land to feed ourselves                                                                                                                                                                that allows our indigenous 
                                                                                                       and support our economy.                                                                                                                                                                        species and ecosystems 
                   Pollution from                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      to thrive.  
                   our activities
                     We have improved the health 
                     of our waterways by reducing 
                     pollution from urban and 
                     rural sources.
                     We have reduced risks to our 
                     environment by producing 
                     less waste and by managing                                                                                               How we use our 
                     harmful chemicals.                                                                                                       freshwater and 
                                                                                                                                              marine resources
                                                                                                                                                Our freshwater and marine 
                                                                                                                                                ecosystems are healthy and 
                                                                                                                                                we use them sustainably to 
                                                                                                                                                support our communities.
                    Dates                            Pre-October
                    Have  
                    your say
                    Consultation title               Action for healthy waterways:                   Planning for successful cities:                 Valuing highly productive land:                 Hazardous substances assessments:               Proposed priority products and 
                                                     A discussion document on national               A discussion document on a                      A discussion document on a                      Improving decision-making:                      priority product stewardship scheme 
                                                     direction for our essential freshwater          proposed national policy statement              proposed national policy statement              A discussion document on proposed               guidelines: Consultation document
                                                                                                     on urban development                            for highly productive land                      improvements to the hazardous 
                                                                                                                                                                                                     substances reassessment process
                    Consultation purpose             Stop further degradation and loss to            When and how cities plan for                    How to identify and manage                      Make us better equipped to reduce               Minimise our waste from harmful 
                                                     our freshwater resources, and reverse           growth, and how to do this well                 our highly productive land                      harm from chemicals                             waste products and help our economy 
                                                     past damage                                                                                                                                                                                     make the most of its resources 
                  This infographic describes the future the proposed changes seek to create and how each contributes.
                                                          Our changing 
                                                          climate
How we use                                                  We all play our part to reduce 
our land                                                    emissions and respond to the 
                                                            effects of climate change.
Our cities have room to                                     All communities are supported 
grow, flourish, and respond                                  in the transition to a low             Our ecosystems 
to the changing needs of                                    emissions economy.
our communities.                                                                                   and biodiversity
Our farming is sustainable                                                                           We all work together to 
and enriches wellbeing in                                                                            protect and restore our 
our communities.                                                                                     biodiversity.
We have highly productive                                                                            We live on our land in a way 
available land to feed ourselves                                                                     that allows our indigenous 
and support our economy.                                                                             species and ecosystems 
Pollution from                                                                                       to thrive.  
our activities
We have improved the health 
of our waterways by reducing 
pollution from urban and 
rural sources.
We have reduced risks to our 
environment by producing 
less waste and by managing How we use our 
harmful chemicals.freshwater and 
marine resources
Our freshwater and marine 
ecosystems are healthy and 
we use them sustainably to 
support our communities.
DatesPre-October                                                                                           Post-October
                                                                                                                       Our Nature: A discussion document on  
Have                                                                                                                   the proposed national policy statement for 
your say                                                                                                               indigenous biodiversity
                                                                                                                       Waste disposal levy expansion consultation
Consultation titleAction for healthy waterways:  Planning for successful cities:  Valuing highly productive land:  Hazardous substances assessments: Proposed priority products and National environmental standard for  
A discussion document on national A discussion document on a A discussion document on a Improving decision-making: priority product stewardship scheme air quality amendments consultation
direction for our essential freshwaterproposed national policy statement proposed national policy statement A discussion document on proposed guidelines: Consultation document
on urban development for highly productive landimprovements to the hazardous                                           New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme  
   substances reassessment process                                                                                     (NZ ETS) Regulations consultation
Consultation purposeStop further degradation and loss to When and how cities plan for  How to identify and manage  Make us better equipped to reduce Minimise our waste from harmful 
our freshwater resources, and reverse growth, and how to do this wellour highly productive landharm from chemicalswaste products and help our economy Public discussion on addressing water 
past damage                                        make the most of its resources                                      allocation issues