Recommendations
90. It is recommended that the Committee:
Positioning strategy
1. note that while much is being done to address environmental issues such as climate change and promote more sustainable business practices. New Zealand lacks an overall positioning strategy that clearly links sustainability with the government's economic transformation agenda, underpinned by potentially transformative actions;
2. agree that the overall goal of such a strategy is to position New Zealand as a world leading exponent of smart, innovative and business-savvy responses to environmental issues;
3. direct MED, in consultation with MfE, to report to POL by 30 September 2007 with advice on how progress towards this goal can be measured, including progress on each of the main areas of activity listed below;
Identifying market opportunties
4. direct NZTE and MFAT, in partnership with TNZ, MfE and New Zealand business organisations, to report to POL by 31 July 2007 with options for strengthening the gathering, interpretation and dissemination to New Zealand firms of market intelligence on:
4.1 how consumer preferences are evolving in specific market segments of New Zealand's top tourism and food and beverage markets (present and emerging);
4.2 significant market opportunities in particular market segments arising from the above;
5. note the government's sustainable procurement and the sustainable households' initiatives will enhance the opportunities for New Zealand businesses to benefit domestically from investments in sustainable business practices;
Building the capability of New Zealand firms
6. direct MfE, in consultation with MED and NZTE, to increase its support for the Sustainable Business Network's "Get Sustainable Challenge" programme;
7. direct NZTE to consider how it can integrate sustainability more effectively into a range of programmes and activities aimed at improving firm capability and awareness;
8. direct NZTE to work with MfE to integrate sustainability into the "Better by Design" programme with a view to building exporters' sustainable design capability;
9. note that, in partnership with Qualmark, the Ministry of Tourism is leading the development of environmental accreditation for tourism businesses, and aims to complete this work in time for this to be launched by 30 November 2007;
10. note that, to permit this work to commence immediately, funding of $0.5m has been found in 2006/07 by re-prioritisation from within MED baselines, and that continuation of the work in 2007/08 will be contingent on additional funding being available;
11. direct MfE, in conjunction with MED, NZTE, and relevant stakeholders, to report to Ministers by 30 November 2007 on the outcomes of a review of existing capability development programmes which assist firms to become more sustainable;
Building the capability of key New Zealand sectors
12. direct TNZ to promote Qualmark environmental accreditation to both operators and consumers, once this has been developed, and to consider whether a separate green travel guide showcasing New Zealand's sustainable tourism businesses should also be developed;
13. direct the Ministry of Tourism, initially in partnership with Air New Zealand and subsequently other large stakeholders in the tourism industry, and in consultation with MfE, MoT, DoC, NZTE and TNZ, to report to POL by 31 July 2007 with options to position New Zealand on the positive side of the travel miles issue over the medium to long term;
14. note that MED intends to explore the option of partnering with DoC, Landcare and other organisations on the development of Cape Reinga as an innovative sustainable tourism destination and will be reporting further to Ministers on this issue by 31 July 2007;
15. note that MfE, Building Research and the Green Building Council are working with a number of stakeholders in the building sector to identify opportunities to accelerate the adoption of sustainable building practices in New Zealand;
Building New Zealand's capability for international leadership
16. note that, as part of its reporting in June 2007 on the preferred package for sustainable land management and climate change, MAF will be addressing measures to position New Zealand as a world leader in managing greenhouse gas emissions arising from the agriculture sector;
17. note that MED and MAF consider that this may require taking a bolder approach to how the research is currently being organised, including how New Zealand co-operates with other countries;
18. direct MED, in consultation with relevant departments and stakeholders, to report to POL by 30 September 2007 on New Zealand's potential to lead aspects of the development and commercialisation of second generation bio-fuels and what the government should do to help realise that potential, if anything;
19. direct MED, MoRST and NZTE to examine the critical constraints to innovation and business growth in proven New Zealand environmental technologies, assess the cost/benefit of policy options, and report back to POL by 30 November 2007 with a priority set of actions;
20. note that, in partnership with the aquaculture industry, and in consultation with MfE and MED, MFish is leading the development and implementation of national standards to help position New Zealand aquaculture as a world leader in the sustainable management of aquaculture, and aims to complete this work in time for the standards to be launched by 30 November 2008;
21. note that MFish is initiating work with the fishing sector to achieve environmental certification (from the Marine Stewardship Council) of key wild fisheries, which will improve the value derived from the sustainable use and management of fisheries;
22. note that, while much of the fisheries and aquaculture work will be funded out of existing MFish baselines, additional funding of up to $0.5m may be required in 2007/08 to put in place scientifically-robust methods for measuring and certifying carbon emissions in the sector.
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