Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
Te Kaitiaki Taiao A Te Whare Pāremata
Acts administered
Established by the Environment Act 1986
No Acts are administered by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Functions and responsibilities
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (‘the Commissioner’) is an Officer of Parliament appointed under section 4 of the Environment Act 1986. The Act establishes the office, details the Commissioner’s powers and functions, and provides for a five-year term of appointment.
The Commissioner’s purpose is to provide an independent check on the capability of the New Zealand system of environmental management and the performance of public authorities in maintaining and improving the quality of the environment.
As an independent Officer of Parliament, the Commissioner has wide-ranging powers to investigate environmental concerns. ‘Independent’ means independent of the government of the day, so the Commissioner reports not to a Government Minister but to Parliament through the:
- Speaker of the House
- Officers of Parliament select committee
The Commissioner’s functions are drawn from section 16 of the Environment Act 1986. She has wide discretion to exercise her functions, which are to:
- review the system of agencies and processes established by the Government to manage the allocation, use, and preservation of natural and physical resources, and report to the House of Representatives
- investigate the effectiveness of environmental planning and environmental management carried out by public authorities, and advise them on remedial action
- investigate any matter where the environment may be or has been adversely affected, advise on preventative measures or remedial action, and report to the House of Representatives
- at the request of the House of Representatives or any select committee, report on any petition, Bill or other matter which may have a significant effect on the environment
- on the direction of the House of Representatives, inquire into any matter that has had or may have a substantial and damaging effect on the environment and report to the House
- undertake and encourage the collection and dissemination of information relating to the environment
- encourage preventive measures and remedial actions for the protection of the environment.
The Commissioner can obtain information, protect the confidentiality of that information where appropriate, report findings, and make recommendations. However, the commissioner does not have the power to make any binding rulings or to reverse decisions made by public authorities.
Structure
Records
Copies of reports and supporting documentation for all major investigations are held in the Commissioner’s office. Publications are available through the Commissioner’s website. The office also holds:
- operational files in relation to complaints and queries from members of the public
- administrative, personnel, and financial files relating to the office and staff.
The files of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment are divided into the categories as set out below:
Documents relating to decision-making processes
The office produces an Annual Report and a Statement of Intent. Its procedures for handling public complaints are outlined on its website.
Publications
The Annual Report and Statement of Intent are available on request, or from the office’s website. The office also publishes reports of its major investigations.
Contact
Dr Jan Wright
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
Level 4
Reserve Bank Building
2 The Terrace
PO Box 10-241
Wellington 6143
Telephone: (04) 471-1669
Fax: (04) 495-8350
Email: pce@pce.parliament.nz
Website: www.pce.parliament.nz
