- Resource Management Act
- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act
- Management of Healthcare Waste NZS4304:2002
- Land Transport Act 1998 - Dangerous Goods 2005
Resource Management Act
Purpose: to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources.
Overview: The act outlines guidelines for the New Zealand public and business organizations when undertaking any project that may have adverse effects on our environment. The act is enforced through a range of statutory bodies, which include:
- The Ministry for Environment
- Department of Conservation
- Regional Councils
- Parliamentary Commissioner
- Territorial Bodies
- Environmental Court
Enforcement Mechanisms: include declarations and enforcement orders made by the Environment Court and abatement notices issued by enforcement officers authorised by local authorities.
Who it applies to: All New Zealand public and business practitioners.
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
Purpose: The purpose of this Act is to protect the environment, and the health and safety of people and communities, by preventing or managing the adverse effects of hazardous substances and new organisms’ (HSNO Act 1996:4).
Overview: The Act established the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA New Zealand) to assess and decide on applications to introduce hazardous substances or new organisms into New Zealand. The act outlines all organisms and substances that are considered hazardous to our environment, and provides guidelines for their use and disposal.
Who it applies to: All New Zealand public and business practitioners.
Management of Healthcare Waste NZS4304:2002
Purpose: To minimise potentially acute, long term, or accumulative environmental or human health impacts.
Overview: This standard provides guidelines for the disposal of human and animal health care waste, including generators, waste transporters and waste disposal facilities. This is to guarantee the safe management of healthcare waste and ensure the protection of community and environmental health (NZS4304:2002:9).
Who it applies to: All healthcare facilities
Land Transport Act 1988 - Dangerous Goods Act 2005
Land Transport Act 1998 - Dangerous Goods 2005
Purpose: Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005 sets out the requirements for the safe transport of dangerous goods on land in New Zealand.
Overview: The Rule covers the packaging, identification and documentation of dangerous goods; the segregation of incompatible goods; transport procedures and the training and responsibilities of those involved in the transport of dangerous goods. The Rule’s requirements are applied according to the nature, quantity and use of the goods.
The Rule revokes and replaces Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 1999, which came into force on 3 May 1999. That Rule set in place a workable regime whose objective was to enable dangerous goods to be transported safely and, thereby, minimise the risk to people, to property and to the environment.