It’s been four months since the Fast-track Approvals system opened for business and the Government says statistics show strong progress toward making it quicker and easier to build the projects New Zealand needs for economic growth.

Progress is being made on the exploration of supercritical geothermal as a potential energy source, with a governance group established and potential drilling sites being identified.

This release from MfE, contains the interim regulatory impact statements for packages 1-3.

The newly adopted Auckland Council policy ensures the cost of growth-related infrastructure is fairly shared between developers and ratepayers.

Infrastructure New Zealand is welcoming the release of consultation on the first National Policy Statement for Infrastructure and the strengthening of guidance for local government as to how they can better integrate infrastructure into consenting and planning processes.

The Commissioner has made a submission to the Ministry for the Environment on proposed changes to New Zealand’s waste legislation.

Changes to the Wildlife Act will ensure important development projects, such as building new solar and wind farms, continue supporting our growing economy while protecting precious wildlife.

The Commissioner has provided feedback on the Treasury’s Long-term Insights Briefing focused on the fiscal risks posed by climate change.

The Climate Change Commission has delivered its annual advice to the Government on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) unit settings.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Enironment has written to the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai to express his concerns regarding the proposed wastewater environmental performance standards.

In this report, the Commissioner for the Environment discusses how current policies are shaping our forest estate and looks at which alternative forestry systems could play a greater role in afforestation.