Vote Environment

MINISTER(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROPRIATIONS: Minister for the Environment (M29)

ADMINISTERING DEPARTMENT: Ministry for the Environment

MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Minister for the Environment

Overview of the Vote

The Minister for the Environment is responsible for appropriations in Vote Environment for the 2011/12 financial year covering the following impact areas:

Achieving better solutions to environmental problems

• a total of just over $4 million to manage environmental obligations and programmes
• a total of nearly $7 million for grants to third parties for domestic environmental management and education programmes, and contributions to international institutions
• a total of just over $1 million for the Crown's contribution to assist with the installation of clean and energy efficient heating with a focus on the homes of low income earners.

Improving the quality, flow and availability of fresh water

• a total of nearly $5 million to provide advice and implement tools for water management
• a total of just over $20 million in funding and grants to third parties for water initiatives as part of the Fresh Start for Fresh Water programme (including protecting Lake Taupo, Rotorua Lakes' restoration, Waikato River clean up and the Fresh Start for Fresh Water New Initiatives Fund).

Improving the resource management framework

• a total of nearly $22 million to provide advice and implement tools to improve resource management
• a total of nearly $22 million for activities undertaken by the Environmental Protection Authority.

Improving the relationship with Maori

• a total of nearly $2 million for the Ministry for the Environment to negotiate and implement fair, durable and fit for purpose deeds of settlement and environmental accords.

Reducing harm from natural, chemical and biological hazards and from waste

• a total of just over $7 million to provide advice and implement tools to mitigate environmental hazards and waste
• a total of just over $10 million for the implementation and operation of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 by the Environmental Risk Management Authority
• a total of nearly $12 million for services provided by third parties for the investigation, management and remediation services relating to contaminated sites
• a total of $28 million for waste minimisation initiatives and payments to territorial local authorities for their proportion of the Waste Disposal Levy as prescribed in the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.

Enabling the organisation

• a total of $575,000 for capital expenditure mainly for the development and purchase of new software.

Details of these appropriations are set out in Parts 2-6 for Vote Environment in the Information Supporting the Estimates of Appropriations.