Kiwi And Aussie EPAs Share Environmental Protection Ideas

Identifying opportunities where a shared regulatory environment may work will be considered today at the first New Zealand-hosted meeting of Australasian heads of environmental regulatory agencies.

Hosted in Wellington by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the informal Heads of EPA (HEPA) collegial forum aims to enable Australasian regulators to share knowledge, promote coherent regulatory practice and policy, and prioritise the formulation of consistent regulation across both countries, EPA Chief Executive, Dr Allan Freeth, said.

“In essence, the forum is committed to producing a coherent Australasian regulatory environment covering land, air, ground and marine water, noise and, where relevant, radiation and biodiversity.”

Dr Freeth said the forum reflected the terms of the 1992 Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment entered into by the Commonwealth of Australia and all its states and territories.

“Our own participation is in line with New Zealand and Australia’s Closer Economic Relations Agreement, which includes fostering New Zealand’s involvement in various Australian Government committees.”

The conference will kick off with a full day workshop on waste regulation. Day two will feature a keynote address by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, before ending with updates, reports and discussion on new initiatives from conference delegates.

ENDS

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