25 September 2024
OIAD-1231
J McKenzie
[FYI request #28177 email]
Tēnā koe J McKenzie
Thank you for your request of 25 August 2024 to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) which
was refined on 1 September 2024 to be for the following under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act):
1.
Stakeholder lists, as well as meeting minutes and external emails with stakeholders
relating to MfE’s targeted stakeholder engagement on the UN Global Plastics Treaty on
Plastics Pollution between INC-4 in April 2024 and the date of the request, in the lead up
to INC-5.
2.
Formal briefings created by MFAT primarily relating to consultations with PSIDS on the
UN Global Plastics Treaty on Plastics Pollution between the lead up to INC-3 and the
date of the request, in the lead up to INC-5.
3.
Current funding mechanisms for waste management in the Pacific region developed in
the last 5 years or under development by MFAT or MfE in relation but not exclusively to
the UNEP Plastics Pollution Treaty Negotiations.
As outlined in our email dated 3 September 2024, part 2 of your request has been transferred to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) as the information requested is not held by MfE
but is believed to be held by MFAT.
We have identified nine documents in scope of part 1 of your request, as outlined in the below
Table 1: Document Table. Some information within these documents has been withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of natural persons. In terms of section 9(1) of the
Act, I am satisfied that, in the circumstances, the withholding of this information is not
outweighed by other considerations that render it desirable to make the information available in
the public interest. Note that we have not included purely administrative emails, such as
responses to meeting invitations and emails clarifying views that were then included in the
summary discussion document, in our response.
I am also providing you with a list of the stakeholders that were invited to join MfE’s targeted
engagement in the lead up to the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to
develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine
environment (INC-5) as
Table 2: Stakeholders. To clarify, the list contains stakeholders who
were invited to attend roundtable discussions, and not all actually attended. It is also important to
note that the individuals who attended were not representing the views of their organisation, but
rather sharing their own expertise.
Regarding part 3 of your request, there is no information on funding mechanisms for waste
management in the Pacific region developed in the last five years or under development by MfE
or MFAT. There are ongoing discussions on a funding mechanism taking place within the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, as part of the UNEP Plastics Pollution treaty
negotiations. However, these discussions relate to the funding mechanism as part of the means
of implementation for the treaty and are not specifically related to the Pacific region but relate to
all Parties of the future treaty.
In the Pacific region the Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is
the key regional agency with responsibility for waste management and pollution control efforts.
More information on their work in this area can be found on SPREP’s website:
https://www.sprep.org/. New Zealand provides core and programmatic funding to SPREP to
support all its operations.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman of my
decisions relating to this request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant
details can be found on their website at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Please note that due to the public interest in our work the Ministry for the Environment publishes
responses to requests for official information on
our OIA responses page shortly after the
response has been sent. If you have any queries about this, please feel free to contact our
Ministerial Services team:
[email address]. Nāku noa, nā
Shaun Lewis
General Manager – Waste Systems
Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao
Table 1: Document Table
Doc
Doc
Decision
Grounds
Content Title
no.
date
on release
applied
Email chain: Invitation to roundtable
Release in
9(2)(a)
1.
19 June
discussion on chemicals and polymers of
part
2024
concern for the UN Global Plastics Treaty
2.
9 July
Email: Roundtable discussion summary and
Release in
9(2)(a)
2024
feedback survey
part
Attachment: Summary of roundtable
Release in
9(2)(a)
3.
9 July
discussion on chemicals and polymers of
part
2024
concern
Meeting invitation: Roundtable discussion –
Release in
9(2)(a)
4.
15 July
problematic and avoidable plastic products,
part
2024
including microplastics
5.
27 July
Email: Roundtable discussion questions and
Release in
9(2)(a)
2024
confirmed attendees for 24 July
part
13
Email: Discussion summary - Roundtable
Release in
9(2)(a)
6.
August
discussion on problematic and avoidable
part
2024
plastic products, including microplastics
Attachment: Summary of discussion –
Release in
9(2)(a)
13
7.
Roundtable discussion on problematic and
part
August
avoidable plastic products, including
2024
microplastics
8.
6 August
Meeting invitation: Roundtable discussion –
Release in
9(2)(a)
2024
product design
part
13
Release in
9(2)(a)
9.
Email: Roundtable discussion product design
August
–
part
19 Aug
2024
Table 2: Stakeholders
3R Group
Landcare Research
Agrecovery
Lewis Road Creamery
Aliaxis
Lion NZ
Aotearoa Plastic Pollution Alliance
Mad World
Armatec
Massey University of New Zealand
Association of Rotational Moulders
Mindful Fashion
Australasia Ltd
Auckland Council
Mix Limited
Biopak
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Business NZ
New Zealand Food and Grocery Council
New Zealand Paint Manufacturers
Cawthorn Institute
Association and Carboline NZ
Christchurch City Council
Northcott Research Consultants
Composites Association of New Zealand
NZ Post
Cosmetics NZ
Packaging Council of New Zealand
Countdown
Para Kore Marae Incorporated
Earthwise
Plasback
Eco matters
Plastics NZ
Ecocentral
Re. Group
Ecostore
Replas
Enviro NZ
Retail Kiwi
Environmental Protection Authority
Reuse Aotearoa
Institute of Environmental Science and
Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics
Research NZ
Treaty
Fisher and Paykel Healthcare
Scion
Fonterra
Surface Coating Association of New Zealand
Foodstuffs NZ
Sustainable Coastlines
Tāngata Whenua Coalition for an Effective
Frucor Suntory
Plastics Treaty
Future Post
The Packaging Forum
Goodman Fielder
University of Canterbury
Gyro plastics
UsedFULLY
Hope Moulded Polystyrene
WasteMINZ
Jad cup
Z
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Zero Waste Network
