In this edition
From the Acting President
Latest EIANZ news
EIANZ Annual Conference
Open for comment
Events calendar
Key Institute and Chapter information
Call for articles and ideas
From the Acting President
As I write this, the news includes Manchester United winning the League Cup, ensuring Jose Mourinho becomes the first manager in United’s history to win a trophy in his first season, and Minister for the Environment, Hon. Nick Smith, announcing a new water quality standard to ensure New Zealand waterways are ‘clean’ by 2040. One of these events will have a bigger impact on New Zealand’s future than the other!
As environmental practitioners and members of EIANZ, we might have something to say about the latter event. I cannot but think that the general ‘run-of-the mill’ New Zealander has not been involved in this decision, or happy with the use of ‘science’ in this way to redefine “swimmable”. The increased risks may be statistically ‘acceptable’, but the loss of another part of our natural heritage and the kind of mal-adjustment to ensure ‘sustainable’ outcomes will, if adopted, be a challenge to us all.
The NZ Chapter will be coordinating a submission on this. Find out how you can contribute later in the newsletter.
Keith Calder MEIANZ
Acting President
Latest EIANZ news
Newsletter editor required
We are looking for someone to take up the position of editor for the New Zealand Chapter newsletter. If you are interested in this role, please contact Alison Davis, Secretary of the NZ Chapter. We will provide plenty of support to get you started.
Email Alison >
Engaging with the NZ Chapter on social media
As well as receiving this newsletter and attending local branch events, you can connect with the NZ Chapter on social media. The NZ Chapter’s LinkedIn Group is a place for you to share information and stories of relevance to members and other environmental practitioners. You can start a discussion, or add to one that's already there - we'd love to hear from you. Last week the group reached a new milestone of 200 members - we're pleased about that! If you're not a member already, join here to get involved. The NZ Chapter also has a Facebook group - EIANZ Early Careers and Students Network NZ. This Group was set up for students and early career professionals but it is not solely for them. More experienced practitioners can share information or advice here, or use it to publicise a job or event. If you have insights or knowledge that might be of use to those just starting out - this is the best place to share it. Join the group here.
New Branch for New Zealand Chapter - Top of the South
A new branch has been established for members in the Marlborough and Tasman area called 'Top of the South'. Events in the New Zealand Chapter are organised at the branch level and the Top of the South's first task will be to organise an event. Mark Davies is the branch coordinator for Top of the South. If you live or work in the Marlborough or Tasman area and would like to be part of this new branch, please update your details online. Instructions on how to update your details are available here.
Update your details >
CEnvP Scheme - An update on the contaminated land specialist category
For those that work in the contaminated land area, there can be debate about who is a suitably qualified and experienced person (SQEP). Marlborough District Council has recently advised practitioners that those that have CEnvP - Contaminated Land will be considered a SQEP. For consultants that do not have the certification, there will be a one year transitional period (unless agreed otherwise) to allow them to gain certification or show they are mostly through the process. Those not certified would be expected to have their reports signed off by a certified SQEP until they gain the required expertise and certification. This is great recognition for the Contamination Land specialist category that was launched two years ago.
Find out more on the Council's webiste >
2016 Environmental Practitioner of the Year - Judith Roper-Lindsay
Last month, EIANZ members and Certified Environmental Practitioners gathered in Christchurch to present Judith Roper-Lindsay FEIANZ CEnvP with the 2016 Environmental Practitioner of the Year award. This award recognises outstanding contributions to environmental practice by a Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP). Simon Beale, CEnvP Board Member, presented the award to Judith, noting that she was the first CEnvP from New Zealand to receive the award. Congratulations again to Judith, a worthy recipient of the award.
Read more >
STEPS Programme review
As flagged in the Corporate Plan, a review of the STEPS programme was initiated late last year. The review is being chaired by Janice van Reyk MEIANZ and involves representatives of the EIANZ Board, Certification Board, Advisory Council, Students and Early Careers Committee and Central Office. During January and February 2017, the review committee sought input from EIANZ members and undertook additional targeted consultation in line with the review’s terms of reference. Any proposed changes to the programme will be discussed and communicated with the membership.
Find out more about the review >
Webinar recordings available
Recordings from past EIANZ webinars are available on the website under the resources sections.
View past recordings >
EIANZ Annual Conference
Our environmental work is increasingly confronted by wicked problems: those that seem difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete data; complex and contradictory factors; and the risk of unforeseen consequences. This conference will focus on wicked solutions: those solutions that are innovative, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary; that take approaches that can be shared across disciplines; and use tools and techniques that apply in many different environments. It is time to stand tall, stand together and front up with wicked solutions to ensure that we, as environmental professionals, are leading by example and doing our part to achieve excellence in environmental practice.
Topics for conference streams are:
- Effective monitoring and measuring
- Changing behaviour
- Communicating science
- Teaming up
- Building resilience
- Strategic thinking
- Commercial sector involvement.
Guidelines for each of these streams are being finalised and a call for papers will go out with the topic guidelines shortly. There will be field trips on 1 November. Details will be available in later editions. For now, make sure you save the date!
Open for comment
Contribute to the NZ Chapter's submission on the government's proposed Clean Water package
The Government has announced a target of 90 per cent of New Zealand’s lakes and rivers meeting new swimmable water quality standards by 2040, and have released new policy, regulations, information maps and funding to help achieve the new goal. This is the latest in the Government’s freshwater management programme and it builds on the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management in 2011, amendments in 2014 and earlier freshwater management funding – Fresh Start for Fresh Water Fund, Irrigation Acceleration Fund and Te Mana o te Wai Fund.
A consultation document has been released covering five components:
- Proposing a target of 90 per cent of rivers and lakes swimmable by 2040
- New maps and information on the current water quality for swimming
- Proposed amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014
- Inviting applications for the Freshwater Improvement Fund
- Detail of policy proposals for excluding stock from waterways.
The National Policy Statement (NPS) for Freshwater Management is being strengthened to support the new 90 per cent by 2040 swimmability target, as well as changes to address the issues of ecological health and nutrients by:
- Replacing “wadeable” with “swimmable”
- Adding macroinvertebrate monitoring for ecological health
- Strengthening references to “Te Mana o te Wai”
- Clarifying the consideration of economic opportunities
- Requiring in-stream limits for nitrogen and phosphorus
- Clarifying inclusion of coastal lakes and lagoons
- Clarifying the policy on exceptions
- Strengthening the requirement for monitoring and improving quality
Additional commentary on the change of swimmable standards has been quite critical from some freshwater ecologists. See this article >
EIANZ NZ Chapter will be submitting to the Government's proposal. Members are encouraged to send individual submissions and to contribute to the NZ Chapter submission, being prepared by Mark Bellingham. To contribute to the NZ Chapter's submissions, send your contribution via email to Mark by 14 April 2017.
Email Mark Bellingham >
Find out more about the Clean Water Package >
Upcoming EIANZ events
Other upcoming events
Key Institute and Chapter information
You can find contact details for the Board, Advisory Council and Central Office on the EIANZ webiste here. Contact details for the New Zealand Chapter are available here.
Call for articles and ideas
This is a monthly newsletter and we need interesting and informative articles every time!
Have you:
• Finished an interesting project
• Attended a training course you found valuable
• Have some photos that you just have to share
• Got some ideas for other things you would like to see in this newsletter?
If so, we would love to add your two cents to the next newsletter.
Please send any suggestions, articles or photos for the next edition to the newsletter editor at nznewsletter.eianz@gmail.com by 20 March 2017.
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