The Environmental Protection Authority: Will It Live up to Its Name?

Abstract

This paper outlines the background to the establishment of a new Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in New Zealand, including an overview of the role and functions of the transitional EPA. The paper focuses on the Environmental Protection Authority Bill that has recently been passed into legislation. It discusses the expanded role the EPA will now have and identifies and analyses potential issues that may result from the new structure. These issues include the objectives of the EPA under the legislation, its functions and interface with other government agencies, its level of independence and governance arrangements, and likely resources. In doing this the paper explores the effect the EPA might have on environmental protection in New Zealand and examines the contention behind the legislation.