Taituarā welcomes Our Land 2024 - the third in a series of environmental reports produced by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ, released under the Environmental Reporting Act 2015. The report is highly credible. A range of resources have been used, and experts consulted, to ensure that this document is of a high quality.
The focus of the report is what might happen in the future, because of the way we have chosen to use the land, and the choices we continue to make, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Recent trends, such as the loss of indigenous forests, dunes, and wetlands, are expected to continue on a similar trajectory. What is significant to note is the compounding effects of that trajectory. Sadly, overall, it is a somewhat bleak picture.
‘Natural infrastructure’ is the term used which describes “natural or semi natural elements of ecosystems and landscapes that are important to delivering benefits for the environment and human wellbeing” (page 9). This highlights the interconnectedness of the environment and the people who live on the land, along with the importance of maintaining balance in the system.
Most of the report is key to local government responsibilities and is extremely topical. It highlights the significant tensions that both central and local government are attempting to manage right now - to meet to the needs of communities today and into the future, and the planet that we live on.
Local government professionals are likely to be challenged by the comments about the inability of highly productive land to be restored, in light of signalled policy and legislative changes. As a country we need to be mindful of decisions that are made to solve immediate and pressing problems having significant long-term consequences. For example, it is noted in the report that the cost of fruit and vegetables is likely to increase as a direct result of highly productive land being used for other purposes.
This is of particular concern given recent central government announcements around the use of this type of land for housing. The report highlights that highly productive land is a finite resource – one that can only remain stable or decline. A considered approach that acknowledges, and ideally mitigates, negative impacts on the environment, needs to be taken. Evidence and long-term needs must be used to support decision making. Another concern emphasised is communities and infrastructure being exposed to flooding risks as a result of development on and near floodplains. Many communities are already dealing with this, not as a hypothetical risk, but as day-to-day reality.
The need for housing intensification is likely to result in a loss of greenspaces. It is vital to ensure that there are sufficient public green spaces, shared spaces in developments, and individual green spaces. The recent COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the positive impact that greenspaces have on personal wellbeing.
This research paints a picture of what is likely to happen to our environment if we do not change the trajectory that we are on. This raises several questions. What will we do differently because of this report? How might we limit the negative impact of our activities on the environment, and how might we develop policies that support this important resource? The report also challenges assumptions that it is only direct economic or financial indicators that need to be considered. Therefore, we are challenged to ask how might we ensure that our analysis of costs and benefits uses the right 'values'? Traditional cost benefit analysis, with high discount rates, status quo bias, and the undervaluing of non-market goods, is likely to be inadequate for long-term investments, decision making and transformational change.
The evaluation of specific policies is out of scope for this report. However, local government may wish to consider how the report can be used as part of its own policy and plans, and in commenting on the policies and plans of others.