Vote Environment - Environment Sector - Estimates 2018/19

Vote Environment#

APPROPRIATION MINISTER(S): Minister for Climate Change (M12), Minister for the Environment (M29)

APPROPRIATION ADMINISTRATOR: Ministry for the Environment

RESPONSIBLE MINISTER 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 2018/19, which cover:

• a total of just over $17 million to provide advice and implement tools for water management

• a total of nearly $22 million in funding and grants to third parties for water initiatives
• a total of just over $23 million to provide advice and implement tools to improve resource management

• 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
• a total of just over $5 million in funding for Iwi to engage in co-management arrangements

• a total of just over $3 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 nearly $6 million to provide advice to mitigate environmental hazards and waste
• a total of just over $4 million for services provided by third parties for the investigation, management and remediation services relating to contaminated sites
• a total of just over $18 million for waste minimisation
• a total of $18 million in payments to territorial local authorities for the Waste Disposal Levy
• a total of nearly $19 million in funding provided to the Environmental Protection Authority including $4 million of additional funding for Exclusive Economic Zone activities
• a total of just over $2 million for ministerial servicing, and
• a total of just over $1 million for capital expenditure.

The Minister for Climate Change is responsible for appropriations in Vote Environment for 2018/19, which cover:

• a total of just over $2 million for the maintenance of a national carbon accounting system
• a total of nearly $16 million for policy advice in relation to the domestic and international climate change programmes and contributions to international programmes
• a total of nearly $619 million for the allocation of New Zealand emission units to the economy, and
• a total of just over $29 million for administering the Emissions Trading Scheme including the impairment of debt.

Details of these appropriations are set out in Parts 2-4.

Details of Appropriations and Capital Injections#

Annual and Permanent Appropriations#

Multi-Year Appropriations#

Total Annual and Permanent Appropriations and Multi-Year Appropriation Forecasts#

Capital Injection Authorisations#

Supporting Information#

Part 1 - Vote as a Whole#

1.1 - New Policy Initiatives

1.2 - Trends in the Vote#

Summary of Financial Activity#

Note - where restructuring of the vote has occurred then, to the extent practicable, prior years information has been restated as if the restructuring had occurred before the beginning of the period covered. In this instance Total Appropriations for the Budgeted and Estimated Actual year may not equal Total Appropriations in the Details of Appropriations and Capital Injections.

Adjustments to the Summary of Financial Activity Table Due to Vote Restructuring#

There have been no restructuring adjustments to prior year information reported in last years' Summary of Financial Activity table.

1.3 - Analysis of Significant Trends#

The actual and budgeted output expenses from 2014/15 onwards reflect an increase in funding for resource management and water management reforms, and climate change related activities.

The variability in Other Expenses relates to the Allocation of New Zealand Units appropriation and reflects the changes in the volume of units allocated and the forecast price of units.

• For appropriation purposes, the upper limit of the appropriation is based on the fixed price of $25 per carbon unit to accommodate the uncertainty in the market price of New Zealand units. The estimated actual is based on the current market price per carbon unit at the time of the forecast.
• The changes in forecast volume of units to be allocated is a result of continuous improvement to the model, assumptions, and activity data for various sectors based on the latest information available at the time of the forecast.

Part 2 - Details of Departmental Appropriations#

2.1 - Departmental Output Expenses#

Ministerial Services (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses and Revenue

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve the provision of support to Ministers, especially in relation to their accountability to Parliament and the public.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Ministry for the Environment in its Annual Report.

Waste Minimisation Administration (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses and Revenue#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve the effective and efficient administration of the functions required under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Ministry for the Environment in its Annual Report.

2.3 - Departmental Capital Expenditure and Capital Injections#

Ministry for the Environment - Capital Expenditure PLA (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation

Capital Expenditure

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve the renewal, upgrade and/or redesign of assets in support of the delivery of the Ministry for the Environment's service.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for departmental capital expenditure will be reported by the Ministry for the Environment in its Annual Report.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

The decrease in this appropriation for 2018/19 is primarily due to one-off expenditure related to purchase of furniture and fixtures and computer hardware following the Kaikoura earthquake.

Capital Injections and Movements in Departmental Net Assets

Ministry for the Environment

Part 3 - Details of Non-Departmental Appropriations#

3.1 - Non-Departmental Output Expenses#

Administration of New Zealand Units held on Trust (M12)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve the fair and accurate distribution of emission units to beneficiaries following treaty settlements.

End of Year Performance Reporting

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental output expense is less than $5 million.

Community Environment Fund (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve support for collaborative partnerships that raise environmental awareness and encourage community participation in environmental initiatives.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental output expense is less than $5 million.

Service Providers#

Current and Past Policy Initiatives#

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The increase in this appropriation for 2018/19 is mainly due to an expense transfer of $650,000 from 2016/17 for projects that support the implementation of the freshwater and resource management reforms, and other initiatives. The final budgeted amount for 2017/18 includes an expense transfer of $284,000 from 2016/17.

The appropriation levels are set at the annual funding round limit initially as the timing of deliverables and project milestones are unknown until the funding round is complete. Projects typically run for three years and to support the committed projects, funds will be rephased through baseline updates to match the timing of milestones.

Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve a reduction in the risks from contaminated sites.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in the Vote Environment Non-Departmental Appropriations Report.

Service Providers#

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The decrease in this appropriation for 2018/19 is mainly due to the remediation work for the Calwell Slipway project finishing in 2017/18.

Funding of $5.182 million from 2016/17 and $1.022 million from 2018/19 and 2019/20 has been transferred to 2017/18 to continue the remediation work of the Kopeopeo Canal and the Calwell Slipway projects. These transfers have been partially offset by an expense transfer of $2 million from 2017/18 to 2018/19 to continue the remediation work of the Kopeopeo Canal project delayed due to weather conditions in the Bay of Plenty region.

Contestable Waste Minimisation Fund (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve the purposes of the Waste Minimisation Act by funding waste minimisation projects to protect the environment from harm and provide environmental, social, economic, and cultural benefits.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in the Vote Environment Non-Departmental Appropriations Report.

Service Providers#

Emissions Trading Scheme (M12)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve the efficient and effective administration of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme and the operation of the New Zealand Emission Unit Register to ensure that the allocation and trading of emission units are recorded accurately and in a timely manner.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Environmental Protection Authority in its Annual Report.

Environmental Protection Authority: Decision Making functions (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve robust and objective environmental decisions for which the Environmental Protection Authority is responsible, and transparent and efficient decision making.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Environmental Protection Authority in its Annual Report.

Current and Past Policy Initiatives#

Environmental Protection Authority: Monitoring and Enforcement functions (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended achieve compliance with environmental rules through monitoring and guiding compliance activity to ensure the effective operation of the regulatory framework.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by Environmental Protection Authority in its Annual Report.

Current and Past Policy Initiatives#

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The decrease in this appropriation for 2018/19 is due to transfer of funding $450,000 for improving health and safety at work. This is partially offset by net additional funding of $298,000 allocated to lead the next phase of the investigation into sites contaminated with Per- and Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl substances (PFAS).

Environmental Training Programmes (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve collaborative relationships, raise environmental awareness and encourage children to participate in environmental initiatives.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental output expense is less than $5 million.

Service Providers#

Fresh Start for Fresh Water: Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation and Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve improved and sustained water quality by targeted interventions in the Rotorua Lakes.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in the Vote Environment Non-Departmental Appropriations Report.

Service Providers#

Current and Past Policy Initiatives#

Promotion of Sustainable Land Management (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve enhanced sustainable land management.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental output expense is less than $5 million.

Service Providers#

Te Mana o Te Wai - restoring the life-giving capacity of fresh water (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve improved water quality of freshwater bodies.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental output expense is less than $5 million.

Service Providers#

Current and Past Policy Initiatives#

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The decrease in this appropriation for 2018/19 is mainly due to majority of the projects finishing in 2018/19.

The Fresh Water Improvement Fund (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve improvements in the water quality of New Zealand's freshwater bodies in partnership with others.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in the Vote Environment Non-Departmental Appropriations Report.

Service Providers#

Current and Past Policy Initiatives#

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The increase in this appropriation for 2018/19 is mainly due to an expense transfer of $3.800 million from 2017/18 to ensure that projects have sufficient funds to complete their programme of work. Funding of $100 million over ten years was allocated through Budget 2016. Due to delays in establishing a contestable funding round (including panel assessment) which is now complete, the Ministry is in the process of negotiating deeds of funding. Projects will typically be for five years and will be delivered collaboratively, with contributions from multiple stakeholders. Funds will be rephased through baseline updates to match with the timing of milestone payments.

3.4 - Non-Departmental Other Expenses#

Allocation of New Zealand Units (M12)#

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve compensating eligible participants of the Emissions Trading Scheme who face increased costs as a result of the scheme.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for Climate Change in the Vote Environment Non-Departmental Appropriations Report.

Service Providers

Current and Past Policy Initiatives

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

The decrease in this appropriation for 2018/19 is mainly due to lower numbers of units forecast for the post-1989 forestry sector. Post-1989 forestry sector participants may file an emissions return every year or at the end of a five year period and claim units for the carbon sequestered in the forest. The second mandatory emissions return period (for 2013-2017) ended on 31 December 2017. This decrease is partially offset by the phased removal of one carbon unit allocation/surrender for two tonnes of emissions reductions.

Climate Change Development Fund (M12)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve an improved response to climate change issues in developing countries.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental other expense is less than $5 million.

Service Providers#

Environmental Legal Assistance (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve improved accessibility for not-for-profit groups to advocate for an environmental issue of high public interest in resource management cases.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental other expense is less than $5 million.

Service Providers#

Current and Past Policy Initiatives#

Framework Convention on Climate Change (M12)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve New Zealand compliance with its international financial obligations to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and ensure New Zealand's participation.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental other expense is less than $5 million.

Fresh Start for Fresh Water: Waikato River Clean-up Fund (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve the resourcing of initiatives for restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

Annual funding decisions are based on:

• applicants meeting the funding criteria

• applications being for projects identified as priority areas by the Trust, and

• the quality of the applications received.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in the Vote Environment Non-Departmental Appropriations Report.

Service Providers#

Impairment of Debt Relating to Climate Change Activities (M12)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve recognition of the expense so that climate change-related activities are valued in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Finance Act, as additional information is unlikely to be informative because this appropriation is the provision for incurring the expense involved in the impairment and write-down of Crown debt arising from climate change related activities (excluding environment).

Impairment of Debt Relating to Environment Activities (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve recognition of the expense so that environment-related activities are valued in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Finance Act, as additional information is unlikely to be informative because this appropriation is the provision for incurring the expense involved in the impairment and write-down of Crown debt arising from environment related activities (excluding climate change).

International Subscriptions (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve New Zealand's participation in international forums on global environmental issues through the provision of subscriptions to International Environmental Agreements.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental other expense is less than $5 million.

Service Providers#

Te Pou Tupua (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended achieve the protection of the status, health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River).

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental other expense is less than $5 million.

Service Providers#

Transitional Support for Local Government and Iwi (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve iwi/hapu and councils being consistently enabled to give effect to kaitiakitanga.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental other expense is less than $5 million.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The increase in this appropriation for 2018/19 is due to an expense transfer from 2017/18 and relates to the following Settlements:

• Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa-Tamaki Nui-a-Rua: Crown Settlement - $500,000
• Hauraki Collective: Final decisions for Mangatangi Stream, Mangatawhiri River and Whangamarino wetland catchments redress - $450,000
• Ngati Rangi Deed of Settlement - $400,000
• Hauraki Negotiations Final Decisions - $120,000

The Crown has agreed to provide a one-off contribution to various regional councils for the costs of co-governance arrangements and these payments are dependent on the enactment of the legislation.

United Nations Environment Programme (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve New Zealand compliance with financial obligations to the United Nations Environment Programme to protect and advance its interests in the work programme.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental other expense is less than $5 million.

Waikato River Co-Governance (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve Waikato and Waipa iwi/hapu being consistently enabled to give effect to kaitiakitanga.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental other expense is less than $5 million.

Waikato River Co-Management (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve Waikato and Waipa iwi/hapu being consistently enabled to give effect to kaitiakitanga.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

An exemption was granted under s15D(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Finance Act as the amount of this annual appropriation for a non-departmental other expense is less than $5 million.

Service Providers#

Waste Disposal Levy Disbursements to Territorial Local Authorities (M29)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve more effective and efficient waste management and minimisation by distributing the Waste Disposal Levy to territorial authorities to fund activities in their Waste Management and Minimisation Plans.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in the Vote Environment Non-Departmental Appropriations Report.

Service Providers#

Part 4 - Details of Multi-Category Expenses and Capital Expenditure#

Multi-Category Expenses and Capital Expenditure#

Climate Change (M12)

Overarching Purpose Statement

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses, Revenue and Capital Expenditure

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve quality policy advice to Ministers on domestic and international climate change issues.

How Performance will be Assessed for this Appropriation

What is Intended to be Achieved with each Category and How Performance will be Assessed

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Ministry for the Environment in its Annual Report.

Current and Past Policy Initiatives

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

The increase in this multi-category appropriation for 2018/19 is due to net additional funding of $3.970 million allocated for 2018/19 ($3.228 million to provide additional resources needed to deliver on the Government's commitments to address climate change, including passing a Zero Carbon Bill, establishing a Climate Change Commission and amending the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) and $742,000 to allow the continuation of New Zealand's involvement in international carbon markets).

These increases are partially offset by:

• a reduction of $1.332 million for the Carbon Monitoring Programme. In 2017/18, there was an expense transfer of $532,000 from 2016/17 and a fiscally neutral transfer of $800,000 from other departmental output expenses for progressing work on the Land Use and Carbon Analysis System mapping programme and geospatial system upgrade
• a reduction of $915,000 for the International Climate Change Programme Policy Advice. In 2017/18, additional funding of $515,000 was allocated to progress work on ratifying the Paris Agreement, and a fiscally neutral transfer of $400,000 from other departmental output expenses to continue policy work on international climate change
• a reduction of $900,000 for the Domestic Climate Change Programme Policy Advice. In 2017/18, there was a transfer of $500,000 from Vote Business, Science and Innovation; an expense transfer of $300,000 from 2016/17; and a fiscally neutral transfer of $100,000 from other departmental output expenses to progress policy work on climate change
• a reduction of $221,000 in cost recovery from third parties, mainly related to staff secondments and travel reimbursements.

Environmental Management Obligations and Programmes (M29)#

Overarching Purpose Statement#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses, Revenue and Capital Expenditure#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve solutions to environmental problems through community involvement and international cooperation.

How Performance will be Assessed for this Appropriation#

What is Intended to be Achieved with each Category and How Performance will be Assessed#

Note 1 - Stage 1 begins when applications to the fund close, and ends once assessment of applications is complete and funding recommendations are provided to the Minister.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Ministry for the Environment in its Annual Report.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The decrease in this multi-category appropriation for 2018/19 is due to:

• a fiscally neutral transfer of $180,000 from other departmental output expenses in 2017/18 to progress work on International Environmental Cooperation Agreements
• a reduction of $52,000 in cost recovery revenue from third parties, mainly related to staff secondments and travel reimbursements.

Improving Environmental Management (M29)#

Overarching Purpose Statement#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses, Revenue and Capital Expenditure#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve quality advice with a focus on improving environmental management frameworks.

How Performance will be Assessed for this Appropriation#

What is Intended to be Achieved with each Category and How Performance will be Assessed#

Note 1 - Including water science and economics projects associated with the management of Te Mana o Te Wai; human health for recreation; the proposed swimming targets; ecosystem health (including macroinvertebrates); toxic algae in rivers (drivers and toxicity); sediment; estuaries (state and values); freshwater flows; and groundwater.

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Ministry for the Environment in its Annual Report.

Current and Past Policy Initiatives#

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The decrease in this multi-category appropriation for 2018/19 is due to:

• a reduction of $3.462 million for non-departmental output class Water science and economics, which is in line with the funding profile. In 2017/18, there was an expense transfer of $3.462 million from 2016/17 to support the development of attributes for a future revision of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
• a reduction of $2.311 million for Resource Management Implementation. In 2017/18, there was an expense transfer of $750,000 from 2016/17 to progress work on National Planning Standards and an environmental integrated data infrastructure project. Funding of $1.561 million was reprioritised from other departmental output expenses to support the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Urban Development Capacity
• a reduction of $1.210 million for Developing and Implementing Treaty Settlements and Environmental Accords Policy Advice. In 2017/18, there was a fiscally neutral transfer of $1.210 million from other departmental output expenses for progressing policy work to negotiate and implement Treaty settlements
• a reduction of $612,000 in cost recovery from third parties, mainly related to staff secondments and travel reimbursements.

These decreases are partially offset by:

• an increase of $650,000 for Marine Environment Policy Advice for progressing policy work on Marine Protected Areas
• additional funding of $580,000 allocated through Budget 2018 for establishing a Resource Management Act enforcement oversight unit
• an increase of $350,000 for Resource Management Policy Advice to continue work on National Planning Standards
• an increase of $189,000 for Water Management output classes to continue work on water management reforms.

Mitigating Environmental Hazards and Waste (M29)#

Overarching Purpose Statement#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses, Revenue and Capital Expenditure#

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation#

This appropriation is intended to achieve quality advice on managing chemical and biological hazards, and waste.

How Performance will be Assessed for this Appropriation#

What is Intended to be Achieved with each Category and How Performance will be Assessed#

End of Year Performance Reporting#

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Ministry for the Environment in its Annual Report.

Current and Past Policy Initiatives#

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The increase in this multi-category appropriation for 2018/19 due to net additional funding of $1.002 million allocated to lead the next phase of the investigation into sites contaminated with Per- and Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl substances (PFAS). This increase is partially offset by:

• a fiscally neutral transfer of $445,000 from other departmental output expenses in 2017/18 for economic research on genetic technology and waste strategy
• a reduction of $34,000 in cost recovery from third parties, mainly related to staff secondments and travel reimbursements.