Labour is calling the scrapping of the Ministry for the Environment “just dumb,” warning that folding it into a new mega-ministry concentrates too much in a single agency, at a time when global markets are scrutinising environmental credentials more closely than ever.

Labour Spokesperson for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor says the working relationship between the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Ministry for the Environment during Labour’s time in government was not always easy.

“We did work closely at that, but it was quite a contest at times, trying to find the right balance there,” he says.

“I think the problem is you won’t have that contest, and so just assuming all the knowledge is in one agency is very arrogant and potentially disastrous.”

O’Connor says New Zealand’s export markets are not immune to growing global scrutiny of environmental performance.

“The environment is increasingly important to the world, if you look at what people are saying about market signals, about consumers, and looking through the supply chain.”

He had conversations recently with Indian wool traders who were learning about shearing, animal welfare, and how wool is produced without killing the sheep, contrary to what many consumers had been told.

“People are looking at their products, how they’re produced.

“New Zealand’s reputation, which has been built up in the past as a clean green country, we have to make sure that we prove that reputation.

“Taking away the Ministry for the Environment is just dumb, in my view.”

O’Connor says the previous National government’s MBIE merger offers a direct comparison.

“They brought this big agency in where they arguably put in health and safety with immigration, with business development, and with tourism.

“In my view, many of those areas have failed to perform as they should have because they’re in one government agency.

“That’s what’s going to happen again.”

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