November 1999
Report summary
The Ministry for the Environment's hazardous waste programme has not achieved its goals within the initial 3-year timeframe for completion. The programme has been extended and the PCE will continue to audit progress.
Executive summary
The 1998 report on Hazardous waste management identified a number of deficiencies in New Zealand's system of managing hazardous waste and a consistent lack of action by successive Governments over a number of years to effectively tackle these issues. On a more positive note, the report also drew attention to the previous Government's commitment to funding a programme, developed by the Ministry for the Environment, intended to improve the management of hazardous waste.
On the basis of the Government's commitment, an audit process was established to monitor progress and assess the outcome of the Ministry's hazardous waste programme.
The Ministry for the Environment's hazardous waste programme has not achieved its goals within the initial 3-year timeframe for completion, but the programme has been extended. The PCE will continue to audit future progress over the life of the hazardous waste programme.
