Articles tagged with Environment Minister
Government Awards $129,000 for Seaweed Removal in Northland After Cyclone Tam
5 days ago | 61 viewsThe Government awarded $129,000 to Northland Regional Council to assist in removing caulerpa seaweed washed up on beaches after Ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam in April, using emergency waste funding. Local hapū, volunteers, and council staff swiftly removed over 100 tonnes of the invasive seaweed to prevent harm to coastlines and marine ecosystems. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds commended the efforts and highlighted ongoing initiatives like the Exotic Caulerpa Elimination Project supported by $6.2 million to address the issue at its source.
Tags: Government Northland Regional Council Environment Minister Penny Simmonds emergency waste funding caulerpa seaweed local hapū marine ecosystems Tasman District Council Ministry for Primary IndustriesGovernment Grants $2 Million for Tasman District Flood Recovery
1 month ago | 260 viewsThe Government has allocated up to $2 million to Tasman District Council for flood recovery efforts, including waste cleanup and infrastructure repairs. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds highlights the challenges faced by the region, particularly in areas like Riwaka and along the Motueka River. The emergency waste funding aims to support councils in managing waste after emergencies and help communities like Tasman towards recovery.
Tags: Government Tasman District Council recovery flooding Environment Minister Penny Simmonds waste cleanup infrastructure repairs silt removal emergency waste fundingNew Law Streamlines Freshwater Farm Plans for NZ Farmers
1 month ago | 259 viewsThe Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act, passed into law, has improved the freshwater farm plan system to make it more workable and affordable for farmers, reducing duplication and costs by allowing industry organisations to certify and audit plans. This change recognizes good work done by farmers and industry groups in managing risks, focusing on actual on-farm risks and practical actions to reduce them. The Act increases the minimum farm size requiring a freshwater farm plan to 50 hectares for certain land uses, removing the requirement for around 8,000 smaller, lower-risk farms, supporting environmental stewardship and growth in the primary sector.
Tags: Government freshwater farm plan system Resource Management Act Agriculture Minister Todd McClay Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard industry organisations farm plans environmental stewardship growth RMA.Government Acts to Prevent 'Stop Work' Order for NZ Farmers: RMA Reform Bill Update
2 months ago | 262 viewsThe Government has intervened to prevent potential stop work notices for thousands of New Zealand farmers due to water discharge rules under the RMA, affecting 2,800 Waikato farms. Various regional councils raised concerns, leading to amendments broadening permitted water discharges in the Resource Management Amendment Bill. The changes aim to support farmers, ensure water quality improvement, and avoid hindering economic recovery, with the bill set to pass into law soon.
Tags: Chris Bishop Todd McClay Andrew Hoggard Government New Zealand farmers RMA Reform Minister Agriculture Minister Associate Environment Minister Waikato Regional Council Resource Management Amendment Bill