New Zealand Environmental Policy and Legislation.

Avechuco Islands- 1 César ; Sierra García -Azucena 1 ; Silva Eduardo -Carmen MY; Saragossa
Soto-Magaly 1 ; Vargas Hugo Zavaleta 1 ; Zulaica Martínez María E. 1
1.- km.38.5 Méx-Tex federal highway. Chapingo Autonomous University. Science Division
Foresters. Forest Restoration Engineering. 6th “7”; CP 56230
E-mail. merle1494yuri@gmail.com
Summary: Environmental policies are the set of objectives, principles, criteria and
general guidelines for the protection of the environment of a particular society.
These policies are implemented through a wide variety of instruments and plans.
The answers themselves can come from very different sources: some are designed
by legislative bodies, as in the case of New Zealand, where the Ministry of the
Environment is a body that advises the government on international environmental
issues. New Zealand's environmental policy is of utmost importance since in 2008 it
topped the list as one of the countries with the best Environmental performance
according to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI).
Introduction
The environment in New Zealand is affected not only by what is done within its
borders, but increasingly by what other countries do inside and outside. On the
New Zealand Ministry for the Environment platform, it states that the objective, both
nationally and internationally, is the development of sound trade and environmental
policies that mutually support the goal of sustainable development. Effective
resource management is critically important to New Zealand's economic
performance, social and environmental well-being so that these decisions are
tailored to current and future needs. The following work was done with the aim of
presenting an overview of New Zealand environmental policy and legislation.
New Zealand Environmental policies and legislation.
Regarding air quality
New Zealand has relatively good air quality due to its low population density. The
air in most parts of New Zealand is clean and healthy to breathe. It does not have
the widespread pollution problems often concentrated around cities in other
countries.

Policies and legislation that regulate air quality

 1. Standards for air quality.
2. kyoto protocol
3. Ozone layer protection law.
4. Montreal Protocol
5. The Vienna convention

Climate change

New Zealand can expect to see changes in wind patterns, storms, the occurrence
of droughts and frosts and the frequency of heavy rain events, as well as rising
temperatures. The impacts of climate change in New Zealand will become more
pronounced as time goes on. Masses of ice from Antarctica, where they broke off
due to the rise in temperatures caused by global warming, arrive in New Zealand.

Policies and legislation for climate change

1. kyoto protocol
2. Clarification of quantified economy-wide emissions reduction targets for
developed country Parties .
3. Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) under Article 3(3) and
(4) of the Kyoto Protocol and under the Clean Development Mechanism
(SBSTA)
4. Climate Change Response Act of 2002

Regarding Water (Fresh)

Water is affected by economic activities and a growing population which put

pressure on freshwater resources. These pressures combined with current trends
in climate change reinforce the need to protect freshwater in New Zealand. Water
quality in some urban and rural areas has degraded and is under increasing
pressure as land use intensifies. This has implications for aquatic life, drinking
water supply, economic activities, cultural values and water-based recreation.
Demand for fresh water is increasing in some regions and cities, and shortages can
be felt at certain times of the year.
Policies and legislation that regulate freshwater quality

1. National policy statement for freshwater management.

2. National Environmental Standard for drinking water sources.
3. National Standard Proposal on ecological flows and water levels.
4. National Environmental Standard for water measurement.
5. River Control Law

Regarding Marine Waters

1. New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement

2. Law 2012 Exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf (Environmental
Effects)
3. Fisheries Act 1996
4. Marine security rules under the Maritime Transport Act 1994.
5. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1978
6. Fiordland Marine Management Act 2005

In waste management

1. Waste minimization law

2. Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996

Regarding soil

Pollution is not always limited to a specific site. Hazardous substances can leach
through the soil into groundwater, or be carried to land and nearby waterways in
rainwater or as dust. Hazardous gases can also contaminate the air; It is usually
caused due to manufacturing and production.
1. National Environmental Standards for the evaluation and management of
contaminants in soil for the protection of human health.
2. Soil Conservation Law

In Matters of Biodiversity

Loss of diversity of animal and plant species; mainly due to climate change. A
number of biological changes have already been observed globally including
changes in the range of some species. Threats to biodiversity in New Zealand may
arise from the creation and expansion of invasive pests and weeds under climate
change.
1. Wildlife Act 1953
2. Biosecurity Act of 1993
3. Resource Management Act 1991

Environmental laws

1. Environment Law 1986

2. Canterbury Environment Act 2010
3. Environmental Protection Authority Act 2011
4. Resource Management Act 1991

Failures and shortcomings of New Zealand's environmental policies.

Like many countries, New Zealand is no exception to the problems of inefficiency in

its environmental policies. The ability to assess inefficiency is essential in the
context of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals initiatives to increase
investments in environmental sustainability. In 2014, New Zealand was placed 16th
in environmental efficiency, evaluated in different parameters, it has only been
below some countries.

1. The law itself, passed in 1991, “reflected a confusion of market, conservation

and Māori perspectives within a formal regulatory regime” (Kelsey, 1995: 110).

2. Neoliberalism as the prevailing economic orthodoxy has been a revelation or

has severely compromised many environmental achievements, resource
management law notwithstanding.
3. Despite regulations on the use of genetically modified organisms, they have
been significantly introduced into New Zealand.

Main Organizations in charge of executing environmental standards and laws

1. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

2. The National Science Challenge, New Zealand's Biological Heritage.

3. The Department of Conservation (DOC)

4. Native Forest Action (NFA)
5. New Zealand Ecological Restoration Network
 6. The New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health (NZIEH) Conclusions

New Zealand's environmental policy is very rigorous in each area of the

ecosystems found in the country. The New Zealand government and its population
have a very clear environmental awareness regarding the management of their
resources. This is manifested, for example, in the interest in reducing the impact
that their purchasing habits may have on the environment. Environmental reports
also allow us to know the effectiveness of policies and initiatives, being able to
guide decision-making processes in the most appropriate direction.

Bibliography

Ministry for the environment.http://www.mfe.govt.nz/ (accessed 08/21/2015)

Michael, Peters(2001). Environmental Education Neoliberalism and Globalization the
experiment of New Zealand. Topics in Environmental Education 3 (8), 70-84 (2001)
Quiroga MR,2007. Environmental and sustainable development indicators: progress and
perspectives for Latin America and the Caribbean. Division of Statistics and
Economic Projections. Santiago de Chile, December
Kelsey, Jane (1995) The New Zealand experiment: a world model for structural adjustment
Auckland, Bridget Williams.