Minister: Nick Smith

Guardian criticism a reality check on climate change policy

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:01:25 +1300

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Criticism in today's Guardian is a reminder of the risk to New Zealand of not taking climate change seriously and ensuring our actions match our words, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith sa...

Govt welcomes report on ETS costs

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:54:40 +1300

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

A report on the amended Emissions Trading Scheme released today by the Sustainability Council shows the changes will more than half the costs for Kiwi households and businesses, Minister for Climate C...

Minister welcomes consultation on methyl bromide

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:22:24 +1300

Nick Smith | Environment

Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today welcomed the decision by Environmental Risk Management Authority New Zealand (ERMA) to seek public submissions on its reassessment of fumigant methyl brom...

Labour hypocrisy over ACC levy increases

beehive.govt.nz — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:19:55 +1300

Nick Smith | ACC

It is a bit rich for Labour to today be protesting increases in ACC levies given it was its financial mismanagement that created the problem, ACC Minister Nick Smith says. "ACC lost $2.4 billion last ...

Govt announces review of Far North Council's consent processes

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:42:14 +1300

Nick Smith | Environment

Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced a review of the Far North District Council's functions under the Resource Management Act. "I am authorising a formal investigation into the Council's pe...

Govt initiates Environment Canterbury performance review

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:39:57 +1300

Rodney Hide | Local Government

Environment Minister Nick Smith and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide today announced a formal investigation into Environment Canterbury because its poor performance is holding the Canterbury regi...

Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill 2009

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:02:52 +1300

Nick Smith | ACC

Mr Speaker, I move that the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill 2009 be now read a first time. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the Bill be referred to the ...

Review of ACC’s approach to sensitive claims

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:55:26 +1300

Nick Smith | ACC

ACC Minister Nick Smith today announced that he has requested that ACC commission an independent clinical review in six months' time of its new approach to managing sensitive claims. The new approach,...

Wairau report confirms need for RMA reforms

beehive.govt.nz — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:27:59 +1300

Nick Smith | Environment

Minister for the Environment Nick Smith today released a report on the processing of TrustPower's application to operate a hydro-scheme on the Wairau River. The report for the Ministry for the Enviro...

ACC Reform Bill introduced next week

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:33:48 +1300

Nick Smith | ACC

The government today tabled the ACC Reform Bill in Parliament and will introduce it for its first reading next week, ACC Minister Nick Smith says. "I am pleased the government has secured support for...

River ranking puts focus on water quality

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:59:13 +1300

Nick Smith | Environment

Environment Minister Nick Smith has today welcomed the release of league tables that rank the water quality of New Zealand's major rivers. "Water quality is a significant issue for New Zealand and imp...

Debate on motor cycle accident costs needed

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:15:41 +1300

Nick Smith | ACC

"New Zealand needs to have a considered debate about the escalating costs of motor cycle accidents, and who should pay", ACC Minister Dr Nick Smith said in response to proposals by ACC's board of stee...

Law changes needed to make ACC affordable

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:54:27 +1300

Nick Smith | ACC

Changes in ACC are needed to make the scheme affordable, sustainable and fair, ACC Minister Nick Smith says. "The levy increases proposed by ACC's Board under the current law are too much for New Zeal...

ACC's $4.8 billion loss unsustainable

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:00:33 +1300

Nick Smith | ACC

ACC has become financially unsustainable and reform is required to ensure its future for New Zealanders, ACC Minister Nick Smith says. ACC's 2008/09 Annual Report was today tabled in Parliament showin...

Goodbye Nanny State; Hello Green Economy

beehive.govt.nz — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:07:04 +1300

Nick Smith | Environment

The Government's environmental agenda is about rolling back Nanny State regulations and achieving better environmental outcomes through financial incentives, says Environment & Climate Change Mini...

Environmental Protection Authority launched

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:57:05 +1300

Nick Smith | Environment

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) that opens today marks a new era in managing New Zealand's natural resources with the Government taking a more active role and major resource consent...

First reading, Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:47:21 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Mr Speaker, I move that the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill now be read a first time. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the Bill be referred to the &nb...

Improved ETS will better protect jobs & environment

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:39:52 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

The Government today introduced a Bill to the House that will make the emissions trading scheme workable and affordable and ensure the New Zealand economy and jobs are not put at risk. Minister for Cl...

Revised ETS balances NZ’s environment & economy

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:06:54 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

The Government, with Maori Party support, will revise the Emissions Trading Scheme to reduce the costs to households and the impact on jobs while ensuring New Zealand takes a responsible approach to t...

Streamlined resource management law passed

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:34:02 +1200

Nick Smith | Environment

The Government has passed changes to improve the Resource Management Act that will untangle unnecessary red tape for New Zealanders and enable essential infrastructure to be built in a more timely way...

Injuries at home cost $640 million last year

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:03:12 +1200

Nick Smith | ACC

The cost of looking after people injured in their own home rose to $640 million in the year ending 30 June - an increase of 36% in just two years, ACC Minister Nick Smith said today. "ACC statis...

Govt welcomes ETS Review Committee report

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:22:09 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith today welcomed the report of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee. "I would like to thank Chairman Peter Dunne and the other members of the sele...

Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:47:38 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Can I open by commending the organisers of this conference for your initiative in helping bring New Zealand and Australian thinking together on climate change and recognising the huge role for busines...

Minister welcomes Resource Management Bill report-back

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:04:34 +1200

Nick Smith | Environment

Environment Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the report back to Parliament on the Resource Management Amendment Bill saying the recommendations will cut through costly red tape without compromising ...

Labour wrong on 2020 costs

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:14:09 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Labour's claims that the Government has exaggerated by tenfold the costs of a 10% to 20% emissions reduction target announced yesterday raises serious questions about the economic literacy of the Oppo...

2020 target balances economy & environment

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:39:01 +1200

Tim Groser | Climate Change Issues

Climate Change Ministers Nick Smith and Tim Groser today announced an emissions reduction target range of 10% to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. In setting the target the Government has balanced econom...

ACC stocktake details announced

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:51:11 +1200

Nick Smith | ACC

ACC Minister Nick Smith today announced the terms of reference and membership of the steering group for the stocktake of ACC that will look at how the scheme can remain affordable for families, busine...

Bold 2020 target comes with high price

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:03:42 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2020 would cost $17.5 billion, put power prices up by 30% and require the equivalent of seven Clyde Dams being built, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says. D...

Audit report step forward for Mapua

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:13:19 +1200

Nick Smith | Environment

The audit report on the remediation of the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site in Mapua has confirmed the land is now fit for residential, commercial and open space use – subject to certain co...

Public meeting details for Mapua report released

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:31:47 +1200

Nick Smith | Environment

Environment Minister Nick Smith today confirmed details of a public meeting to be held in Mapua on 31 July where residents will find out results of key reports into the state of a former contaminated ...