About the Ministry for the Environment
The Ministry is the Government’s primary adviser on environmental matters. This involves taking a long-term perspective on environmental issues when making decisions.
The Ministry was established under the Environment Act 1986. The Act requires the Ministry to think broadly as it develops its advice.
This means considering the:
intrinsic values of ecosystems
values people place on the environment
principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
sustainability of natural and physical resources
needs of future generations.
The Ministry’s purpose statement is: As New Zealand’s lead advisor on the environment and climate, we enable people and places to thrive, now and in the future.
The Ministry for the Environment has two core roles in the Fast-track process
The Ministry's core function as responsible agency is to assess referral applications and provide advice to the Minister for Infrastructure to inform his decisions on referral applications.
The Ministry receives the referral application from the applicant and assesses it for completeness and eligibility. It also prepares a report on Treaty Settlements and other obligations for each project application.
The Ministry then provides this information to the Minister for Infrastructure, who decides whether the project should be referred to the substantive stage of the Fast-track process.
In addition to supporting the Minister for Infrastructure, the Ministry is responsible for advising relevant Ministers (including the Minister for Climate Change) who may exercise powers, functions and duties under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. Comments must be invited from the Minister for the Environment at both referral and substantive application stages.
The Fast-track process guides applicants
If you apply for Fast-track referral, the application process will guide your work with the Ministry for the Environment. The application forms explain the information needed. The Fast-track team will help applicants connect with the right people at the Ministry for the Environment.
More detail: Referral application to use the Fast-track