PCE submission on the Environmental Reporting Amendment Bill

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment welcomed the Environmental Reporting Amendment Bill, a long-awaited step toward strengthening New Zealand’s environmental reporting system.

Many of the changes proposed in the Bill reflect recommendations made in his 2019 review of New Zealand’s environmental reporting system and subsequent advice in 2022

However, the submission argues that the Bill does not go far enough. The Commissioner recommends embedding enduring environmental outcomes in legislation and requiring regular reporting against them. He also calls for a mandatory government response to state of the environment reports to strengthen accountability and parliamentary scrutiny.

The submission also highlights the need for national leadership on environmental information during a time of significant regulatory change. “Environmental information needs to be treated as critical national infrastructure and managed accordingly.”