NZ’s environment ministry makes for an interesting comparison
ELTO Officials from Cambodia Vietnam and Laos visit the New Zealand MfE
Four ministry officials from Lao PDR, one from Cambodia and one from Vietnam visited the Ministry for the Environment in Wellington recently. This was part of their ELTO (English Language Programme for Officials) study programme which includes English language training, learning about New Zealand’s systems of government and establishing partnerships with officials in New Zealand.
This group are from similar ministries in their countries (Mr Nguyen Quang An from the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources, Mr Him Chandath from the Cambodian Ministry of Environment and Ms Avonechit Vongsipasom, Mr Phetsingha Sipaceuth and Mr Khammy Thipphasay from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Lao PDR) so they found it a useful opportunity to make comparisons with New Zealand. They learnt about NZ’s environment and economy, the role of the Ministry for the Environment, its relationships with other bodies, and New Zealand’s strategies around climate change.
They were interested in the fact that the ministry focuses on drafting legislation, policy, standards and other guidelines but environmental management is implemented by local government and other agencies. In Laos, for example, policy is implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. It has three levels, national, provincial, and district.