"The system is too fragmented and too uncoordinated. Bishop said public servants were often as frustrated, as ministers are by the duplication, overlapping responsibilities and lack of coordination between the existing ministries. The new ministry would combine the key levers that shape growth and productivity, he said."
"New Zealand promotes itself to the world as 100% pure and clean, green, while for many living in the country, a deep connection to nature is regularly cited as being an important part of personal and collective identities. However, its species are in worrying decline, with a high proportion threatened, or at risk of extinction one of the highest amid the global biodiversity crisis."
New Zealand's coalition government introduced legislation in February to disestablish the environment ministry, established by statute in 1986, and merge it into a new mega-ministry covering housing, urban development, transport, local government, and environmental functions. The government aims to have the new ministry operational by July 1. Minister Chris Bishop argues the current system is fragmented and uncoordinated, with overlapping responsibilities causing inefficiency. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds contends the merger will protect the environment while enhancing prosperity. However, critics and experts express concern that eliminating the dedicated ministry will weaken environmental protections. This occurs amid New Zealand's biodiversity crisis, with many species threatened or at risk of extinction and freshwater systems degraded by pollution and sewage overflows.
#environmental-policy #government-restructuring #biodiversity-crisis #new-zealand-politics #environmental-protection
Read at www.theguardian.com
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