Vote Environment - Supplementary Estimates 2014/15

Details of Appropriations and Capital Injections#

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Annual and Permanent Appropriations#

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Multi-Year Appropriations#

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Total Annual, Permanent and Multi-Year Appropriations#

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Capital Injection Authorisations#

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Supporting Information#

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Part 1 - Vote as a Whole#

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1.2 - Trends in the Vote

Summary of Financial Activity

Part 2 - Details of Departmental Appropriations#

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2.1 - Departmental Output Expenses

Carbon Monitoring Programme (M12)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses and Revenue

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation decreased by $1.085 million to $3.190 million for 2014/15. The funding of $875,000 and $210,000 were reprioritised towards progressing one-off work in relation to international climate change negotiations within the Climate Change MCA and water management reforms within the Improving Resource Management MCA respectively.

Ministerial Services (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses and Revenue

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation decreased by $543,000 to $2.757 million for 2014/15. This is due to the fact that the Ministry received lower than anticipated Official Information Act requests and Parliamentary Questions arising from the profile and nature of the Ministry's key workstreams such as resource management and water reforms. This funding was reprioritised towards progressing work in relation to water management reforms within the Improving Resource Management MCA.

Waste Minimisation Administration (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses and Revenue

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation increased by $16,000 to $1.730 million for 2014/15. This increase primarily relates to cost recovery revenue from other parties.

2.3 - Departmental Capital Expenditure and Capital Injections

Ministry for the Environment - Capital Expenditure PLA (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

Capital Expenditure

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

This appropriation increased by $919,000 to $1.540 million for 2014/15. This increase primarily relates to the additional investment in the Ministry's core systems including a document records management system.

Capital Injections and Movements in Departmental Net Assets

Ministry for the Environment

Part 3 - Details of Non-Departmental Appropriations#

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3.1 - Non-Departmental Output Expenses

Administration of New Zealand Units held on Trust (M12)

Scope of Appropriation

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

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in a report appended to the Ministry for the Environment's Annual Report.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation decreased by $2.475 million to $2.397 million for 2014/15. This decrease is due to an expense transfer to 2015/16 for projects that support the implementation of the freshwater and resource management reforms, and other initiatives. This transfer represents the rephasing of funding to match the expected delivery of projects milestones.

Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

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.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation decreased by $4.104 million to $524,000 for 2014/15, which is due to:

• a fiscally neutral transfer of $1.510 million to Vote Conservation for the remediation of the Prohibition and Alexander Mines
• an expense transfer of $1.693 million to 2015/16 in relation to a multi-year project to remediate the Kopeopeo Canal. The application for resource consents was appealed to the Environment Court and was only resolved in December 2014. The appeal has delayed the project start date by approximately six months. Therefore the funding originally planned for construction works in the current financial year is now to be undertaken in 2015/16, and
• an expense transfer of $901,000 to 2016/17 in relation to the Calwell Slipway project for the Ministry to support the remedial work for this site.

Contestable Waste Minimisation Fund (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in a report appended to the Ministry for the Environment's Annual Report.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation decreased by $3.169 million to $12.583 million for 2014/15. This is due to the rephasing of funds to match the actual and expected delivery of milestones in outyears. Appropriation levels are initially set at the annual funding round limit and timing of deliverables and project milestones are unknown until the funding round is complete.

Emissions Trading Scheme (M12)

Scope of Appropriation

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation decreased by $300,000 to $6.092 million for 2014/15. This decrease is due to an expense transfer of $300,000 to 2015/16 to cover the dual costs of operating the current and new Emissions Unit Register, currently being built by the Environmental Protection Authority.

Environmental Training Programmes (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

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.

Fresh Start for Fresh Water: New Initiatives (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in a report appended to the Ministry for the Environment's Annual Report.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation increased by $729,000 to $2.429 million for 2014/15. This increase is primarily due to an expense transfer of $1.084 million from 2013/14 to match the actual delivery of milestones. However this is partially offset by an expense transfer of $355,000 to 2015/16.

Fresh Start for Fresh Water: Rotorua Lakes Restoration Programme (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve improved water quality outcomes by targeted interventions in the Lake Rotorua catchment.

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 a report appended to the Ministry for the Environment's Annual Report.

Service Providers

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

The increase in this appropriation in 2014/15 is due to an expense transfer of $298,000 from 2013/14. This transfer represents the rephasing of the funding to match the expected delivery of project milestones. The rephasing of the funds is necessary to successfully implement the framework of nutrient reduction.

Promotion of Sustainable Land Management (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

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.

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

Scope of Appropriation

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.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation decreased by $2.030 million to $470,000 for 2014/15. This is due to an expense transfer of $2.030 million to 2016/17.

Funding of $5 million is appropriated over two financial years (2014/16). This decrease is due to an expense transfer to support freshwater initiatives such as riparian planting, projects to reduce nitrate levels, and community-run water restoration efforts for local waterways.

3.4 - Non-Departmental Other Expenses

Allocation of New Zealand Units (M12)

Scope of Appropriation

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in a report appended to the Ministry for the Environment's Annual Report.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation decreased by $14.890 million to $149.820 million for 2014/15. The decrease reflects the latest forecast changes of the allocation of units due to lower level of uptake rate by the post-1989 forestry and industrial sectors.

Climate Change Development Fund (M12)

Scope of Appropriation

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.

Environmental Legal Assistance (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

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

This appropriation decreased by $120,000 to $680,000 for 2014/15. This decrease is due to a transfer of funding to Vote Transport to provide financial support to Maori groups engaged in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council hearing into the Rena Owner's resource consent application to leave the remains of the Rena wreck on Otaiti.

Exclusive Economic Zone Major Prosecutions Fund (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to allow the Environmental Protection Authority to carry out major prosecutions under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012.

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

This is a new appropriation established in 2014/15 to cover costs of the Environmental Protection Authority to carry out major prosecutions under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012. A fiscally neutral transfer of $500,000 for 2014/15 was sought from the Non-Departmental Output Expense: Compliance and Enforcement category within the Multi-category appropriation: Environmental Protection Authority: Regulatory Functions.

Framework Convention on Climate Change (M12)

Scope of Appropriation

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

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in a report appended to the Ministry for the Environment's Annual Report.

Impairment of Debt Relating to Climate Change Activities (M12)

Scope of Appropriation

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

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

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.

Te Awa Tupua Putea (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve the advancement of initiatives relating to the health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua, funded through this contestable fund, which can be applied for by any person, group or entity.

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 in 2014/15 is due to an expense transfer of $882,000 from 2013/14.

This appropriation represents the unwinding of the discount for the one-off payment of $30 million recognised as an expense in 2013/14 in net present value terms. This amount is payable on legislation being enacted which is likely to happen within two years of signing of the deed.

Te Awa Tupua Whole of River Strategy (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve the development of the Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River) Whole of River Strategy, the purpose of which will be to identify issues for the environmental, social, cultural and economic health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua and provide a strategy and recommended actions for addressing those issues.

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 in 2014/15 is due to an expense transfer of $13,000 from 2013/14.

This appropriation represents the unwinding of the discount for the one-off Crown contribution of $430,000 recognised as an expense in 2013/14 in net present value terms. This amount is payable on legislation being enacted which is likely to happen within two years of signing of the deed.

Te Pou Tupua (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

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.

Transitional Support for Local Government and Iwi (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

End of Year Performance Reporting

Expenses

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve assistance with costs associated with new natural resource arrangements.

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 in 2014/15 is due to an expense transfer of $17,000 from 2013/14.

This appropriation represents the unwinding of the discount for the one-off Crown contribution of $575,000 recognised as an expense in 2013/14 in net present value terms. This amount is payable to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to cover the costs arising from the Tauranga Moana Framework Co-management Arrangements. This payment is dependent on legislation being enacted.

United Nations Environment Programme (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

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

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

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.

Waste Disposal Levy Disbursements to Territorial Local Authorities (M29)

Scope of Appropriation

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Minister for the Environment in a report appended to the Ministry for the Environment's Annual Report.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation increased by $2 million to $16 million for 2014/15 to align to the amount of the Waste Disposal Levy revenue collected by the Crown.

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

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Multi-Category Expenses and Capital Expenditure

Climate Change (M12)

Overarching Purpose Statement

Scope of Appropriation