The Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environment Effects) Bill (the EEZ Bill) was introduced Parliament on 24 August 2011.
The Environmental Protection Authority has been identified as the proposed consenting authority for activities taking place within New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Once the Bill comes into force, it is expected that we will undertake the day to day operations of the proposed legislation, including the information management, decision making, monitoring and enforcement required.
The Ministry for the Environment is developing the policy, legislation and regulations associated with the EEZ Bill. The regulations will need to be developed before the Bill comes into force.
Further information about the development of the EEZ Bill and associated policy and regulation can be found on the Ministry’s website.
Interim measures
Until the EEZ Bill comes into force, voluntary interim measures have been established to manage the risks of some activities within the Exclusive Economic Zone and Extended Continental Shelf.
The interim measures ask industry to prepare an environmental impact assessment and provide it to us for review on a voluntary basis. The process is intended to foreshadow what will be required when the Bill comes into force.
The Ministry and the EPA have developed guidance on the information to include in an environmental impact assessment to be provided to us for review.
Impact assessment guidance (pdf, 81kb)
Further information about the EEZ Bill and the interim measures is available.
Contact details
Enquiries relating to the EEZ and the interim measures:
Sally Baguley
Project Leader
Environmental Protection Authority
sally.baguley@epa.govt.nz
DDI +64 9 985 4879
Mob +64 021 711 785
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