The Commissioner has made a submission on the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill. He expresses concern that the proposed list of ‘core services’ for local authorities is too restrictive.

The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has released its third and final report in a multi-year project examining the Government’s ‘phase 3’ resource management reforms: Replacing the Resource Management Act – Risks and Solutions.

MBIE has released the latest Energy in New Zealand report, providing a comprehensive overview of the country’s energy production and consumption in 2024.

The Government has moved a step closer to nearly tripling marine protection for the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana that will help restore precious biodiversity while enabling New Zealanders to benefit for generations.

Talks to develop an international treaty on plastic pollution did not reach a consensus as negotiations came to an end on 15 August 2025.

Draft changes to Auckland’s planning rules to better protect people and property from floods and other hazards, while enabling more homes near transport and jobs, will be considered by the Auckland Council’s Policy and Planning Committee on 21 August.

Funding for a solar farm at Te Karaka will keep critical services running during extreme weather events and provide long-term economic benefits for the community.  

The Government has agreed to change the building and construction sector’s liability settings from joint and several liability to proportionate liability and is making it easier for Building Consent Authorities (BCA) to voluntarily consolidate their functions.

The draft briefing shares information on New Zealand’s hazard landscape and the forces that shape it. It also outlines the challenges of resilience-building and opportunities for action.

Aotearoa New Zealand continues to contribute to global efforts to address plastic pollution through the development of an international treaty.

Doubling geothermal energy by 2040 is part of an ambitious new draft strategy to unlock New Zealand’s geothermal potential.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has made a series of submissions on the RMA national direction packages. In this submission he provided feedback on proposed amendments to the primary sector and freshwater packages.