During 2007 the Committee discussed how climate change considerations might be taken into account in decision-making under the RMA, and the Government’s climate change policies. We also considered initiatives by the Ministry for the Environment in relation to National Environmental Standards (NES) and the Sustainable Water Programme of Action.

Submissions were made to the Ministry on the proposed NES for telecommunications facilities and for electricity transmission.

The Committee discussed the role of Environment Court Commissioners. Commissioners are full members of the Court and can (by majority) override the Judge. They can in some cases conduct hearings without a Judge. Thus decisions can be made by Court members who are not Judges.

The Committee met with the Principal Environment Court Judge to discuss this and other matters including the allocation of Judges and Commissioners to particular cases, the Court’s workload and how the Court’s practice note is working.

The Committee considered the role of expert witnesses in Environment Court hearings. We also reviewed aspects of the Hauraki Gulf Forum under the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000.