Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill

Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: 1 Title This Act is the Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Act 2026 . 2 Commencement This Act comes into force on 1 July 2026 . 3 Principal Act This Act amends the Environment Act 1986. 4 Long Title amended In the Long Title, repeal paragraph (b). 5 Section 2 amended (Interpretation) In section 2, definition of consent , paragraph (a), replace the Schedule with Schedule 2 . In section 2, repeal the definition of Minister . In section 2, repeal the definition of Ministry . In section 2, replace the definition of Secretary with: Secretary or Secretary for the Environment means the chief executive of the Ministry 6 New section 2A inserted (Transitional, savings, and related provisions) After section 2, insert: 2A Transitional, savings, and related provisions The transitional, savings, and related provisions set out in Schedule 1 have effect according to their terms. 7 Part 2 heading replaced Replace the Part 2 heading with: 2 Secretary for the Environment 8 Section 28 repealed (Ministry for the Environment) Repeal section 28. 9 Section 29 replaced (Secretary for the Environment) Replace section 29 with: 29 Secretary for the Environment responsible to Minister The Secretary for the Environment is responsible to the Minister for— a the performance of their functions under section 31; and b ensuring compliance with section 32. 10 Section 30 repealed (Other officers and employees of Ministry) Repeal section 30. 11 Section 31 amended (Functions of Ministry) Replace the heading to section 31 with Functions of Secretary for the Environment . In section 31, replace The Ministry shall have with The Secretary has . In section 31(c)(i), replace the Schedule with Schedule 2 . In section 31(g), replace the Ministry by any enactment with the Secretary by an Act listed in Schedule 3 . 12 Section 32 amended (Matters to which regard to be given) In section 32, replace Ministry’s functions, every officer and employee of the Ministry, so far as is practicable, shall with Secretary’s functions, the Secretary must, as far as practicable, . 13 Section 33 amended (Committees) In section 33(1), replace Ministry with Secretary . 13A New section 34 inserted (Reporting) After section 33, insert: 34 Reporting 1 The Secretary must, as soon as practicable after the end of a financial year, report to the Minister on how the Secretary has performed their functions under section 31 in that financial year. 2 The Secretary’s report must be included in the annual report of the Ministry for that financial year. 3 In this section,— annual report of the Ministry means the annual report that— a the Ministry is required to prepare under section 43 of the Public Finance Act 1989 ; and b must be presented to the House of Representatives, and published, under section 44 of that Act financial year has the meaning given in section 2(1) of the Public Finance Act 1989 . 14 New Schedule 1 inserted Insert the Schedule 1 set out in Schedule 1 of this Act as the first schedule to appear after the last section of the principal Act. 15 Schedule heading replaced Replace the Schedule heading with: 2 ss 2, 31(c)(i) Acts under which consents may be granted 16 New Schedule 3 inserted After the Schedule, insert as Schedule 3 the schedule set out in Schedule 2 of this Act. 17 Amendments to other Acts Amend the Acts specified in Schedule 3 as set out in that schedule. 1 New Schedule 1 inserted 1 s 2A Transitional, savings, and related provisions 1 Provision Provisions relating to Environment (Disestablishment of Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Act 2026 1 Ministry for the Environment disestablished The Ministry for the Environment is disestablished. 2 First report The first report under section 34 must be made for the financial year that begins on 1 July 2026. 1 Transitional, savings, and related provisions 2 New Schedule 3 inserted 3 s 31(g) Other Acts that may confer functions on Secretary Climate Change Response Act 2002 Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Resource Management Act 1991 Waste Minimisation Act 2008 3 Other Acts that may confer functions on Secretary 3 Amendments to other Acts In Schedule 7, replace clause 37(5)(c) with: c the department, departmental agency, or interdepartmental venture (as named in Part 1, 2, or 4 of Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020 ) that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for administering the Environment Act 1986 , including any statutory officer who carries out work for that entity: In section 103, definition of administering agency , replace the Ministry for the Environment with the chief executive of the department that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for administering the Resource Management Act 1991 . In section 4(1), definition of management agency , replace paragraph (b) with: b the department, departmental agency, or interdepartmental venture (as named in Part 1, 2, or 4 of Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020 ) that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for administering the Environment Act 1986 : In section 5(6AC)(b), replace Secretary for the Ministry for the Environment with Secretary as defined in section 5(1) of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 . In section 141C(1)(a), delete for the Environment . In section 141G(2), delete for the Environment . Replace section 282(3)(i) with: i the department, departmental agency, or interdepartmental venture (as named in Part 1, 2, or 4 of Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020 ) that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for administering the Environment Act 1986 : In Schedule 1, Part 1, repeal the item relating to the Ministry for the Environment. In Schedule 2, Part 1, repeal the item relating to the Ministry for the Environment. In Schedule 2, Part 3, item relating to the Climate Change Chief Executives Board, second column, repeal the item relating to the Ministry for the Environment. In section 77F, definition of national planning standards , replace that ministry with the department, departmental agency, or interdepartmental venture (as named in Part 1, 2, or 4 of Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020 ) that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for administering this Act . In section 360K(4), delete for the Environment . In Schedule 1AA, clause 3(1)(a), delete for the Environment . In Schedule 1AA, clause 5(1), delete for the Environment . In section 5(1), replace the definition of Secretary with: Secretary means the Secretary for the Environment within the meaning of section 2 of the Environment Act 1986 In section 93(2)(c), delete for the Environment . In section 204(5), definition of regulatory agency , replace paragraph (h) with: h the agency that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for administering the Environment Act 1986 , including any statutory officer who carries out work for that agency: