New Zealand environmental law

Environmental law in New Zealand is an increasingly well defined body of national law that has a specialist court, The Environment Court of New Zealand (Māori: Te Kooti Taiao o Aotearoa), to decide related issues.

History

The roots of New Zealand environmental law can be traced to the common law of Australia. The increasing environmental awareness of the 1960s led to a specific body of environmental law that developed in many Western countries including New Zealand. Environmental law became more integrated in the 1980s with the passing of the Environment Act 1986 and the Conservation Act 1987. These Acts set up the Ministry for the Environment, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and the Department of Conservation.

The most significant Act of Parliament concerning environmental law was the passing of Resource Management Act 1991. Issues under the Act are adjudicated by the Environment Court of New Zealand.

This timeline outlines the more significant environmental legislation in New Zealand:

1903 - Scenery Preservation Act
1962 - Nature Conservation Council set up under the Nature Conservation Council Act.
August 1970 - New Zealand Cabinet established the Environmental Council
February 1972 - Cabinet established the position of Minister of the Environment
August 1972 - Government creates the New Zealand Commission for the Environment
March 1974 - Environmental Protection and Enhancement Procedures (EP&EP) are instituted.
January 1987 - Environment Act 1986 comes into force.
April 1987 - Conservation Act comes into force
October 1991 - Resource Management Act comes into force.
June 1996 - Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act

Coutts, B. 1997 A Practical Guide to Resource Consents John McIndoe, Dunedin ISBN 0-473-04592-3
Bosselman, K.; Grinlinton, D. 2002 Environmental Law for a Sustainable Society ISBN 0-473-08646-8
Wells, N. E., (editor) 1984 A Guide to Environmental Law in New Zealand, ISBN 0-86472-006-8

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