Legislation to update New Zealand’s environmental reporting regime passed its first reading in Parliament today, Minister for the Environment Nicola Grigg says.

“The Environmental Reporting Amendment Bill is an important part of our work to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our environmental reporting system,” Ms Grigg says.

The Bill proposes amending the Environmental Reporting Act 2015 to improve data quality, and make information more accessible, relevant and timely.

“The Bill changes reporting content and timeframes, better aligns roles and responsibilities, and provides a more structured collection of environmental data and knowledge.”

“The Bill includes proposals to reduce the frequency of environmental reporting using timeframes better suited to tracking environmental change and that provide more meaningful insights. This will also allow more flexibility in reporting on complex and interconnected environmental issues.

“We need a future-focussed reporting system that gives clearer insights, and shows how the environment may change over time, and how decisions of the day may impact the environment and our communities in the future.

“These changes will enable clearer reporting on progress against government priorities, improve transparency and support more informed policy and investment decisions in resource management, spatial planning and climate adaptation.”

The Environmental Reporting Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament on June 16.

The Bill will now go to the Environment Select Committee for scrutiny.