Council wants quango for the environment

Press, 4 September 1987, Page 27

Council wants quango for the environment

Wellington reporter The need for a new environmental quango (quasi-autonomous nonGovernment organisation) and its likely structure are being discussed by the Environmental Council. A discussion paper from the council said an environmental quango could act as a watchdog monitoring the bureaucracy. It was released by the convener of the Environmental Council’s quango review committee, Mr Gordon Stephenson. He said quangos were a source of independent and

alternative advice, offering a long-term perspective beyond the three-year electoral process. The recent reorganisation of environmental agencies might not have accounted for all the needs. The public is now being invited to consider existing and potential gaps in the environmental administration. The question was, would an environmental quango best fill those gaps? Mr Stephenson said. Such a new quango would act as a mechanism for monitoring the State-

owned enterprises. Regional forums would be held in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland during September, he said, and submissions were due to the council by October 31. Public comments would be forwarded to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Palmer, in early December and would allow the Government to decide on the need for an environmental quango before the end of this financial year.