Ministry for the Environment

We are the Government’s primary adviser on environmental matters. We also have a stewardship role. This involves taking a long-term perspective on environmental issues when making decisions.

Our Ministry was established under the Environment Act 1986. The Act requires us to think broadly as we develop our advice.

This means considering the:

intrinsic values of ecosystems
values people place on the environment
principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
sustainability of natural and physical resources
needs of future generations.
We’ve wrapped this into the simple purpose statement for the Ministry: He taiao tōnui mō ngā reanga katoa – a flourishing environment for every generation.