The ERMA conference is an important opportunity for you to have your say on the issues and to meet all the key players involved in the HSNO process.
The focus this year:
- GMOs including the import of new plants and animals.
- Developing good practice in the field of environmental risk management, including how New Zealand compares internationally and how the Environmental Risk Management Authority approaches this issue.
- Reviewing the experience to date in managing new organisms and looking at the outcomes - what are we achieving for the environment and public health with HSNO and what objectives do we need to set for the future.
- Providing an opportunity for participants, including applicants, submitters and Maori to comment on the HSNO process and their experience so far.
- A special Workshop on the results of ERMA New Zealands investigation into unauthorised GMO development work has been added to Session 7 (between 2-3pm on Friday) This will be a critical opportunity for those concerned with GM developments to come along and discuss the issues, and especially how to more cost-effectively meet HSNO requirements.
Keynote speakers:
Hon Marian Hobbs, Minister for the Environment
Professor Jean Cross - Department of Safety Science at the University
of New South Wales and Chair of the Standards Australia/Standards New
Zealand Risk Management Committee. She will talk on risk management
Practical sessions on:
- Using the world wide web for HSNO.
- Effective participation under HSNO (making a submission).
- Unauthorised GMO developments.
- A special workshop on HSNO for Maori.
- HSNO workshop for the news media.
The Conference Office,
Centre for Continuing Education,
University of Canterbury,
Private Bag 4800,
Christchurch.
Tele +64 3 364 2645,
Email: erma@cont.canterbury.ac.nz.
Thursday 29 June
8.30am Registration
Session 1: Welcome and keynote address.
9.00 -9.10 - Welcome.
- Tangata whenua welcome from Ngai Tahu Gerrard Albert, Chairman Nga Kaihautu Tikanga Taiao.
- Dr. Bas Walker, CEO, ERMA New Zealand.
9.10-9.15 - Housekeeping notices - Karen Cronin, Communications Manager,
ERMA New Zealand.
9.15-9.20 - Opening remarks - Bill Falconer, Chairman of the Authority.
9.20-10.00 - Keynote address - Hon
Marian Hobbs, Minister for the Environment.
General approach to environment issues and this portfolio, government
expectations of HSNO Act and ERMA New Zealand, future changes, Royal Commission,
Moratorium
10.00-10.30 - Morning tea.
Session 2: New organisms and HSNO - a review of progress since July 98: lessons learned and suggestions for ERMA New Zealand processes
Session Chair: Dr Bas Walker.
10.30-11.00 - View from the Authority - Bill Falconer.
General impressions after 4 years as Authority Chair. Role of the Authority,
nature of the task, overview of decisions and issues covered, principles
followed, success factors, and future needs etc.
11.00-11.30 - View from Nga Kaihautu - Gerrard
Albert - Chairman Nga Kaihautu Tikanga Taiao.
Brief outline on role of Nga K. General impressions after 2-3 years of
operation. Nature of the task, overview of issues covered, success factors,
suggestions for the future. Key messages for applicants and submitters.
11.30-12.30 - Participating in the HSNO Process - Panel Discussion.
Chair: Dr Oliver Sutherland Deputy - Chairman of the Authority.
How have you seen the application process so far? What is working well and what needs improvement? What has your experience been like as a participant? What advice would you give other participants? Recommendations to ERMA New Zealand for the future.
View from applicant - Phillipa Stevens, Hort Research, Mt Albert.
View from submitter - MaryAnne Howard-Clarke, RAGE, Wellington.
View from Maori participant - Jacqui
Amohanga, Ngati Wairere, Hamilton.
12.30- 2.00 - Lunch.
2.00-3.30pm
Session 3: From means to ends - looking to the future. Key issues and outcomes for new organisms in New Zealand.
Session Chair: Dr Lindie Nelson - Authority member.
Workshops - 4 parallel sessions, each with 2 short presentations and then facilitated discussion on these questions: What have been the key issues over the last 2 years? How well has the HSNO Act worked to deal with these issues? Are HSNO objectives for the environment and public health being achieved? What do we need to do in future to achieve desired outcomes?
GMO technical issues
Workshop facilitator: Dr Donald Hannah Manager, Science and Research ERMA New Zealand
Contributors: Dr Deborah Read
Senior Advisor Public Health, ERMA New Zealand.
Outline of ERMA New Zealand generic issues programme, incl. antibiotic resistance
marker genes Dr Val Orchard, ESR.
Outline of research on horizontal gene transfer.
New organism technical issues
Workshop facilitator: Kevin Currie Manager, Operations, ERMA New Zealand
Contributors: Alistair Polson, President, Federated Farmers
Dr Mick Clout, Chair Invasive
Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of IUCN, the World
Conservation Union. New organism imports, bio security/border control,
bio diversity and sustainable land management.
Maori issues
Workshop facilitator: Bevan Tipene Matua Senior Policy Advisor, ERMA New Zealand
Contributors: Gerrard Albert, Chairman, Nga Kaihautu Tikanga Taiao.
Edward Ellison, Kaiwhakahaere
Deputy Chairman, Ngai Tahu.
Understanding Maori perspectives on new organisms and the environment,
taking Maori views into account in the HSNO process, the role of Nga Kaihautu
Tikanga Taiao.
Social issues
Workshop facilitator: Karen Cronin Manager Communications ERMA New Zealand.
Public awareness, community expectations for the environment, ethical
and social issues.
Contributors: Janet Gough Senior Policy Advisor, ERMA New Zealand.
Dr Barbara Nicholas Bioethicist.
3.30-4.00 - Afternoon tea.
4.00-4.30 - Workshops continue - summarise answers to questions and prepare
report back.
4.30-5.00
Session 4: Report back on workshop outcomes.
Session Chair: Dr. Lindie Nelson Authority member.
5.00-7.00 - Cocktail function.
Friday 30 June
8.30am - Registration.
9.00-10.00
Session 5: Environmental Risk Management.
Session Chair: Dr. Bas Walker
International keynote presentation:
Professor Jean Cross, Department
of Safety Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia,
Chair of the Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand (SA/SNZ) Risk Management
Committee.
Environmental Risk Management - what is it, why is it important, key
international trends, why companies need to do ERM, standards and good
professional practice. Overview of AS/NZS 4360: Risk Management, 1999.
10.00-10.15 - Introducing the SA/SNZ Environmental Risk Management guide:
Janet Gough Chair of the Environmental
Risk Management Standards Committee.
10.15- 10.30 - Establishment of the New Zealand Risk Management Society.
Stephen Thornton, Manager
Policy and Analysis, ERMA New Zealand
10.30-11.00 - Morning tea.
11.00-1.00
Session 6: Putting RM into practice.
Session chair: Helen Hughes, Authority member.
11.00-11.30 - Keynote presentation: Marje Russ, Tonkin and Taylor
Industry approaches to Environmental Risk Management. How companies can
benefit from risk management. Using standards to promote best practice
in the private sector.
11.30-12.30 - Risk identification and risk assessment - best practice
under HSNO Presenters:
Steve Thornton and Donald Hannah,
ERMA New Zealand.
12.30-2.00 - Lunch.
2.00-3.00
Session 7: ERMA New Zealand - practical training workshops.
5 options offered depending on the level of interest Minimum number of
participants= 5.
A) How to use the world wide web to help with HSNO. An introduction to
www.ermanz.govt.nz, www.hsno.govt.nz and other sites.
Presenters: Debbie Eastwood and Peter Burke
B) Effective participation under HSNO. Making a submission on a new organism,
participating in hearings etc.
Presenter: Anne Rose
C) Special session on unauthorised GMO developments. Replaces advertised
workshop.
An important opportunity for all those with an interest in this issue
to meet and discuss it with ERMA New Zealand.
Presenter: Bas Walker, Kevin Currie
contributor.
D) An introduction to HSNO for Maori participants.
Presenter: Dr Murray Parsons Nga Kaihautu Tikanga Taiao.
E) HSNO workshop for the news media.
Presenter: Karen Cronin.
3.00-3.30 - Afternoon tea.
3.30-4.3
Session 8: Wrap up.
Session chair: Bill Falconer.
Note on future New Organisms training courses and events coming up.
Note on Hazardous Substances start up.
Brief commentary on the conference from 2 participants:
Closing remarks: Chairman of the Authority.
Farewell - Ngai Tahu.