ENV403 Resource Management and Environmental Law Student Number :2023002887

Discussion Board 1 Word Count: 548

This discussion will identify and explain 3 environmental laws and how they interact with the
Resource Management Act 1991 and its amendments.

The Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 regulates the sustainable management of the physical
and natural resources of land, air & water usage and the provision of infrastructure. People can use
resources if it is allowed under the RMA or permitted by a Resource Consent. (Resource
Management System, 2023).

Waste Minimalisation Act 2008

The 2008 Waste Minimalisation Act is to encourage the reduction in the amount of waste we
generate and dispose of in New Zealand. The aim intends to reduce the environmental harm of
waste as well as providing economic, social and cultural benefits for New Zealand. (Waste
Minimisation Act 2008, 2021). The act applies a levy of $10 per tonne on all waste sent to landfill,
requires some mandatory waste reporting and created a Waste Advisory Board. The RMA requires
local authorities to have waste management plans, Waste Minimalisation Act clarifies what the exact
roles and responsibilities the authorities have in context of those plans.

Environmental Reporting Act 2015

The 2015 Environmental Reporting Act has created a standardised framework for regular reporting
that can be independent and structured on the state of New Zealand's environment. This is designed
to provide effective tracking and understand the impacts of our activities on the environment over
time. The data collected from this will allow for well-informed decision making. (ERA 2015, n.d.). This
Act is intended to isolate the reporting to give an objective statement of the current environmental
situation. The responses to the issues are more subjective depending on values of stakeholders thus
the separation of objective and explicit framework for reporting the issues are easily attributable to
the specific RMA area relevant to resolving issues. E.g. Fresh water contamination risks from
intensive farming - fresh water and land domains.

Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019

The 2019 Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act was orchestrated for the intent of
providing a framework that can develop clear and stable climate change policies for New Zealand for
the future and then to be effectively able to implement them. This was done to align with the global
effort under the Paris Agreement. (Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019,
2021). One of the Act’s four 4 key points was the reduction of all greenhouse gases to zero by 2050,
this was excluding biogenic methane emissions which are produced by living organisms, this biogenic
methane is from biological processes in the waste and agricultural sectors. (“Reviewing Aotearoa’s
NDC and Biogenic Methane,” n.d.). In theory the RMA should have been the ideal tool to apply the
emission criteria to future resource needs and applications, however, as found in the RMA CNZero
Alignment, 2020” (n.d.) the impact summary found that under the 2004 RMA amendment local
authorities were prohibited from considering discharged greenhouses gas emissions as this was to go
through the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme. An issue still not legislatively resolved.

To conclude the RMA does have a consistent influence with the implementation of the resultant
objectives of the aims of the laws mentioned though does appear to have a direct interaction with all
New Zealand Environmental law. The RMA is pivotal to current and future environmental law.
ENV403 Resource Management and Environmental Law Student Number :2023002887
Discussion Board 1 Word Count: 548

References

Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019. (2021, April 5). Retrieved from
https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/acts/climate-change-response-
amendment-act-2019/#what-the-amendment-act-does

ERA 2015. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://consult.environment.govt.nz/environment/proposed-

amendments-environmental-reporting-
act/#:~:text=The%20Environmental%20Reporting%20Act%202015%20%28ERA%29%20provi
des%20the,over%20time%2C%20which%20is%20vital%20for%20good%20decision-making.

Resource management system. (2023, August 24). Retrieved from

https://environment.govt.nz/what-government-is-doing/areas-of-work/rma/

Reviewing Aotearoa’s NDC and biogenic methane. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.climatecommission.govt.nz/our-work/advice-to-government-topic/reviewing-
new-zealands-nationally-determined-contribution-and-biogenic-
methane/#:~:text=Biogenic%20methane%20is%20that%20which%20is%20produced%20by,
biological%20processes%20in%20the%20waste%20and%20agriculture%20sectors.

RMA CNZero Alignment, 2020. (n.d.). The NZ Treasury. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2020-07/ria-mfe-zero-feb20.pdf

Waste Minimisation Act 2008. (2021, April 5). Retrieved from https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-
regulations/acts/waste-minimisation-act-2008/