Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
Encyclopedia
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (Te Kaitiaki Taiao a Te Whare Pāremata in Māori
) is an independent Officer of the New Zealand
Parliament appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the House of Representatives
for a five-year term under the Environment Act 1986
. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment replaced the Commission for the Environment, a Government agency which was formed in 1972.
issues and the system of agencies and processes established by the Government to manage the environment. The primary objective of the office is to contribute to maintaining and improving the quality of the environment in New Zealand through advice given to Parliament, local councils, business, tangata whenua, communities and other public agencies.
The Commissioner may:
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
) is an independent Officer of the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Parliament appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the House of Representatives
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
for a five-year term under the Environment Act 1986
Environment Act 1986
The Environment Act 1986 established the Ministry for the Environment and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.-References:* .*...
. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment replaced the Commission for the Environment, a Government agency which was formed in 1972.
Role
The Commissioner's role is to review and provide advice on environmentalNatural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
issues and the system of agencies and processes established by the Government to manage the environment. The primary objective of the office is to contribute to maintaining and improving the quality of the environment in New Zealand through advice given to Parliament, local councils, business, tangata whenua, communities and other public agencies.
The Commissioner may:
- investigate any matter where the environment may be, or has been adversely affected;
- assess the capability, performance and effectiveness of the New Zealand system of environmental management; and
- provide advice and information that will assist people to maintain and improve the quality of the environment.
Commissioners
- Helen Hughes (1987-1996)
- Dr. J. Morgan Williams (1997-2007)
- Dr. Jan WrightJan WrightDr Jan Wright is New Zealand's third Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. She was sworn in as Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment for a five-year term on 5 March 2007....
(2007-)