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May 2020 Emerging from our bubbles Tēnā koutou katoa It has been great to see New Zealanders uniting with a sense of common purpose in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the adversity faced by so many, we have seen countless examples of innovation, good humour and compassion. It has been the same at the EPA. The past two months have been challenging, as we learned how to work from home and network with stakeholders – and each other – remotely, often with children on hand, and with residual anxiety about loved ones outside of our particular bubble. Our staff adapted quickly to the new reality, and continued delivering on our key statutory obligations. We have tried to be flexible, recognising the strain our stakeholders are working under. For example, we gave a two-week extension to NZ Emission Trading Scheme participants who could not meet the 31 March deadline for filing their emissions returns. We are now planning how to gradually and safely move back into our Wellington offices. We will continue to make full use of our digital platforms for engagement activity with stakeholders and the wider community while we remain at Alert Level 2. If you need to talk about your work with the EPA please contact us at info@epa.govt.nz. Ngā mihi nui
Dr Allan Freeth EPA Chief Executive Zoonoses, COVID-19, and the EPA - what's the connection?Not to be confused with cute noses on exotic creatures, zoonoses are diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans (and vice versa). COVID-19 is just the latest and most prominent zoonosis. Principal Scientist and Acting Manager of our New Organisms team, Dr.Tim Strabala, explains how zoonoses operate, and how these diseases relate to the work we do. Islands and isolationJust prior to lockdown, a group of EPA science and community engagement staff met with kaitiaki on Matiu / Somes Island in Wellington Harbour to collect water samples for our new eDNA outreach programme. As a strange inversion, our visit to the former quarantine island provided a temporary pause from the COVID-19 realities unfolding on the mainland. Playing it safe with Safer HomesAs we emerge from our bubbles it is important that we keep ourselves, our whānau, pets and environment safe around household and gardening chemicals. Here are some top EPA Safer Homes tips to help you do this. Rāranga Tahi, the Te Herenga national hui 2020This year’s Te Herenga national hui, Rāranga Tahi, enabled members to hear from guest speakers and wānanga a range of environmental issues. Rangatahi were invited to share their views, and ESR and WorkSafe also discussed their work with the group. Hazardous Substances UpdateOur current edition covers the ethanedinitrile (EDN) application update, hand sanitiser guidance, hydrofluorocarbon permits reminder, neonicotinoid information call and GHS update. Read the latest application decisions and news from the hazardous substances team. New rules for paraquat useWe announced greater controls and restrictions on paraquat use, a broad spectrum herbicide, late last year. Most restrictions must be in place by December 2020, and labelling requirements by December 2021. Upcoming consultationsWe will soon be undertaking a second consultation on implementing the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in New Zealand. The GHS is an internationally agreed system to classify chemicals and communicate their hazards through labels and safety data sheets. Find out more about the GHS and other consultations coming up. |