The House rose interrupting the first reading debate of the Environmental Protection Authority (Protection of Environment) Amendment Bill.
This bill amends the Environmental Protection Authority Act to add an additional objective that the organisation must aim to protect, maintain, and enhance New Zealand’s environment.
The Bill’s sponsor Meka Whaitiri said the bill would make the Environmental Protection Authority a better organisation as it would make it clear what its role was.
National MPs indicated they would vote against the bill as it would impinge upon the EPA’s operational integrity. They argued the agency’s role and functions were clearly laid out and that was to implement legislation which achieved the objectives the bill’s sponsor desired.
The House will sit tomorrow at 2pm.
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