Environmental Legislative Oversight Body
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) in Aotearoa New Zealand is an independent officer of Parliament, tasked with overseeing and reporting on environmental issues. The PCE's primary role is to advise Parliament and the public on environmental matters, including monitoring the government’s environmental policies and practices, conducting investigations, and providing recommendations to promote sustainable management of natural resources.
The Commissioner focuses on evaluating the environmental consequences of government actions, legislative proposals, and resource management policies to ensure they align with ecological sustainability and public interest. The office also makes formal submissions on resource management and environmental legislation to influence better environmental outcomes.
The Commissioner's power to obtain information comes with a duty of secrecy, and the information will only be disclosed if it is judged necessary for carrying out the Commissioner's functions. The Commissioner has strong powers to obtain information, including the ability to request information from any organization or person that is not publicly available, and the power to summon people to be examined under oath.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment serves as the government’s environmental watchdog, providing independent, evidence-based analysis and reporting directly to Parliament to support informed decision-making and uphold environmental stewardship in New Zealand. The Commissioner's reports may contain recommendations to Ministers or be purely informative, and they may aim to change policies, provide guidance or education, raise awareness of issues, redefine problems, or kickstart action on a topic.
The PCE's recent report on weeds, titled Space invaders: A review of how New Zealand manages weeds that threaten native ecosystems, features Tropaeolum speciosum, also known as the Chilean flame creeper, on its cover. The report examines the management of invasive weeds that pose a threat to native ecosystems in New Zealand.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, there is a strong affinity for the natural environment, and many non-government organizations (NGOs) and government agencies work to protect it. The role of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment highlights the importance of understanding the nature of science, and the socially and culturally embedded aspects of it.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's office is located in the Beehive, the executive wing where the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers have their offices. The Commissioner is independent of the government of the day and reports to Parliament as a whole rather than a single minister. The Commissioner's term is for five years, and the Right Honourable Simon Upton was appointed for a second 5-year term in October 2022.
The Commissioner's website offers easy-to-read FAQ sheets and other news items in addition to many long-form reports, such as "Knowing what's out there: Regulating the environmental fate of chemicals," "On a pathway to extinction? An investigation into the status and management of the longfin eel," and "Evaluating the use of 1080: Predators, poisons and silent forests."
The House of Representatives is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs) who represent the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Parliament House houses the Chamber where the House of Representatives sits to debate Bills and consider parliamentary business. The PCE's role is different from the roles of government environmental agencies, providing an independent and robust advisory function to Parliament.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's focus extends beyond local environmental matters, as the office also submits input on general-news issues such as resource management and environmental legislation, aiming to influence better environmental outcomes nationwide. Local and national non-government organizations, along with government agencies, share a common goal with the PCE in protecting and preserving Aotearoa New Zealand's natural environment. Politics in New Zealand values the input of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, considering the office's informative reports as vital for making informed decisions that uphold environmental stewardship.
