Environmental Reflections http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/ The aim of the blog is to place environmental planning in its wider social, cultural and ecological context. The underlying assumption is that environmental planning is all about care for the land, for our human and natural ‘lifeworld’ or ‘living space’. It encompasses care for our biophysical life-support system of soil, water, air, plants and animals, not forgetting the coast and the sea; but also care and concern for the human world of landscapes, built spaces, community and future generations. en-us Copyright 2012 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:23:18 +1200 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification EDS:The greening of New Zealand - election results

An interesting article to digest:

New Zealand Herald opinion piece: The greening of New Zealand

by Gary Taylor

This article appears today in the New Zealand Herald. (29.11.2011)

The election results have seen support for the Greens surge past the 10% barrier for the first time. The remarkable number of seats they now hold reflects a shift in public sentiment: environment is now a mainstream concern.

Their success is due in part to a smart campaign from the Greens themselves. It can also be attributed to two big events during the past term of Parliament - the proposal to mine National Parks and the Rena disaster. Both revealed the depth of the strong public attachment to our wonderful environment and the need to take better care of it.

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/11/edsthe-greening-of-new-zealand.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/11/edsthe-greening-of-new-zealand.shtml Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:23:18 +1200 Oily birds; the Rena oilspill

November 2011 christina and Rena 052.jpg

The Rena grounding  on Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga in October 2011 is regarded as New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster. The grounding caused 350 tonnes heavy fuel oil to leak into the sea from where it was carried by tidal currents and wind and deposited on nearby beaches. Bad for human commercial and recreational activities, but deadly for wildlife. Maritime New Zealand has recently released figures of some of the wildlife affected:  http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/incident/

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/11/-normal-0-false-false.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/11/-normal-0-false-false.shtml Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:11:22 +1200 Proposed Environment Reporting Bill High quality information on the environment supports high quality environmental planning.The Government is currently assessing the standard of environmental reporting and is proposing legislative change so as to improve environmental reporting in New Zealand. A discussion document has been prepared and it is currently open for submission. To read more go to: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/environmental-reporting/about/

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/09/proposed-environment-reporting.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/09/proposed-environment-reporting.shtml Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:38:21 +1200 Hamilton gullies To find out more about the Hamilton Gully Restoration Programme visit: http://www.gullyguide.co.nz/index.asp?pageID=2145821438

Ponga.BMP]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/09/hamilton-gullies.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/09/hamilton-gullies.shtml Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:26:19 +1200 Funding local projects - democratic choices - where the dollar goes Under New Zealand systems, communities have the opportunity to participate in where  local authorities choose to spend the rating dollar. The Long Term Plan and Annual Plans made under the Local Government Act 2002 are  vehicles which can be used for these discussions or alternatively they may arise as special projects.

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/09/funding-local-projects-democra.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/09/funding-local-projects-democra.shtml Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:17:40 +1200 The irony of 100% pure and Department of Conservation cuts blue lake.jpg

New Zealand is trading on its 100% pure image to attract and further develop tourism. The major draw card is New Zealand’s natural environment. Protected areas and other conservation lands and waters provide innumerable tourism opportunities. A very high percentage of our international tourists visit at least one Department of Conservation managed site during their stay. But what are we doing to support and give credence to the notion of 100% pure?
]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/07/the-irony-of-100-pure-and-depa.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/07/the-irony-of-100-pure-and-depa.shtml conservation planning Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:01:30 +1200 Heading towards 4C: what could it mean for NZ by Mairi Jay

The International Energy Agency, an organisation charged with advising its member states (Australia, NZ, Canada, the US and the European Union) about energy policy and security, has just issued its conclusion that CO2 emissions in 2010 were the highest in history, and that 80% of projected 2020 emissions from the energy sector are already locked in (i.e. they involve energy generation from fossil fuels that are already existing or under construction).  An IEA spokesperson suggests that “This significant increase in CO2 emissions and the locking in of future emissions due to infrastructure investments represent a serious setback to our hopes of limiting the global rise in temperature to no more than 2°C”   (http://www.iea.org/index_info.asp?id=1959).

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/06/heading-towards-4c-what-could.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/06/heading-towards-4c-what-could.shtml Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:40:34 +1200 Renewable energy and the limits of the environment waipapa dam.JPG Renewable energy in forms such as hydro, wind, solar, tidal and biofuel are being viewed by many as the path to salvation. The way forward to limit and potentially avoid the spectre of global climate change. New Zealand has set hefty targets to promote and develop renewable energy sources. The New Zealand Energy Strategy 2011 records that the government retains the aspirational, but achievable, target that 90 percent of electricity generation be from renewable sources by 2025 (in an average hydrological year) providing this does not affect security of supply.

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/05/renewable-energy-and-the-limit.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/05/renewable-energy-and-the-limit.shtml Tue, 31 May 2011 14:31:19 +1200 Planning for killer worms  http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/155810/highway-threatens-killer-worm

Take a look at this article which raises classic planning issues in an unusual form.

What do you think?

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/05/planning-for-killer-worms.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/05/planning-for-killer-worms.shtml Biodiversity Conservation and planning Conservation planning animal geography Fri, 06 May 2011 10:49:33 +1200 Young Kiwis fear apartment living Rototuna.JPG

(Photo: Rototuna, Hamilton)

The greatest fear for young New Zealanders is the prospect of living in a city apartment according to a United Nations survey conducted by Canterbury University academic Bronwyn Hayward. She said that young people feared apartment living because it would cut them off from outdoor pursuits. This may be one factor fuelling the continual demand in New Zealand for single storey housing in suburban locations with all the long term implications that this has for urban sprawl and car useage.

See:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4934946/Young-Kiwis-fear-apartment-living
]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/05/young-kiwis-fear-apartment-liv.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/05/young-kiwis-fear-apartment-liv.shtml Wed, 04 May 2011 11:19:50 +1200 Planning for growth...planning for shrinking.... Due to increasing global populations, planners often focus on planning for growth - how to fit more development in, where to locate it and how to manage the effects. What happens when areas start to shrink? Put your brains partially in reverse and read about the interesting planning problems facing the City of Detroit in this New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/us/06detroit.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/04/planning-for-growthplanning-fo.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/04/planning-for-growthplanning-fo.shtml Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:56:02 +1200 John Travolta and the fin fish aquaculture coromandel.jpg


Yesterday we had an excellent seminar from Graeme Silver on finfish farming in the Waikato. Graeme is a coastal planner with the Waikato Regional Council and is involved in planning and managing aquaculture in the Region.
Central Government has introduced the Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill (No 3) which if enacted will change the way aquaculture is regulated. This bill is an omnibus bill that amends the Resource Management Act 1991, the Fisheries Act 1996, and other Acts. The new legislation would see provisions inserted directly into the Regional Coastal Plan, and potentially opens the door to further aquaculture in Region, including fin fish farming. From my point of view this represents a strong shift away from the traditional RMA approach whereby decision making is devolved to Regional and local levels. In this instance Central government has taken the power from the Region in order to shape regulation to fit national goals.
]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/04/john-travolta-and-the-fin-fish.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/04/john-travolta-and-the-fin-fish.shtml Coastal and Marine Conservation and planning Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:19:24 +1200 Maersk, a global shipping company, is reducing its carbon footprint  The website Carbonpositive reports that the giant shipping company, Maersk, is reducing its consumption of fossil fuel (bunker fuel) by cutting travel speeds. Maersk is one of the main transport companies for New Zealand exports.

According to the article (www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=2278) Maersk reports that between 2007 and 2010  it reduced its CO2 emissions per container by 14.5% by improving operational efficiency, most particularly by slow steaming.  The company has set itself the target for reducing CO2 emissions by 25% per container moved by 2020 compared to 2007 levels.

This has implications implications for New Zealand.  Fonterra exports 95% of its milk to nearly 150 countries.  Maersk provided the logistics of getting NZ milk from point A to point B.  By achieving (and setting) significant CO2 reductions  in transport, it means that the environmental impact of our dairy products is reduced.  It also sets a standard that Fonterra can aspire to.  Wouldn't it be great If Fonterra would set itself the standard of reducing the carbon footprint of each container load of dairy product from cow to container!  It would be a source of pride for all of us.

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/03/maersk-a-global-shipping-compa.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/03/maersk-a-global-shipping-compa.shtml Coastal and Marine Economics shipping transport transportation planning Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:14:33 +1200 Census of marine life  The Census of Marine Life has just announced the publication a new document entitled Scientific Results to Support the Sustainable Use and Conservation of Marine Life. The report can help marine planners, resource managers and policy makers to craft science-based policy. It summarizes the discoveries, tools and technologies from the decade-long Census of Marine Life. Included are examples and data that can inform decisions about ecosystem and species level protection.  It discusses findings about marine habitat degradation and rehabilitation and introduces Census-developed tools to identify biodiversity hotspots and large-scale ecological patterns and analyze distributions of species over time and space. 

Even if you are not a policy-maker or marine planner, the report provides a wonderful view on the majesty and mystery of life in the oceans.  It is well supported by maps and illustrations which help to give a much greater appreciation of marine biodiversity.  

The report is available for download from http://www.coml.org/policy-report. 

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/03/census-of-marine-life.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/03/census-of-marine-life.shtml Biodiversity Coastal and Marine Conservation and planning environmental planning marine marine planning Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:52:13 +1200 Japanese crisis and nuclear energy - planning for what we don't fully understand or expect In planning for the environment it is easy to be seduced by received or accepted wisdom in relation to new technology. The Japan crisis underscores the power of nature and the importance of the precautionary principle in terms of environmental planning.

Read of the reaction in Europe to the crisis at:

 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10712699

Why is it that we need a crisis of this magnitude to ask the questions that European policy makers ask now?

For the people of Japan, I can only hope that the nuclear issues are resolved speedily and efficiently so that you have the opportunity to begin recovery  from such a devastating event. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

]]> http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/03/japanese-crisis-and-nuclear-en.shtml http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/e-reflections/2011/03/japanese-crisis-and-nuclear-en.shtml Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:53:03 +1200