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Georgina Beyer, MP, is applauding the Government's new scheme to provide funding to environmental and community groups to take cases to the Environment Court.
Ms Beyer said that the legal assistance scheme was an important part of the Government's wider aim to improve public participation in the Resource Management Act processes.
"I'm relieved that something is being done to address the barriers that people in our communities face when they get involved in environment processes. This offers real solutions and I urge people in the Wairarapa to find out more about this scheme," she said.
"Much of the time, the people who are out there speaking up for the community on environmental matters are dealing with a lack of resources and battling against statutory processes that are not exactly user-friendly. This scheme will redress the imbalance that occurs when one side of a case lacks the other's resources."
The Ministry for the Environment is now accepting applications for the funding. The first decisions will be made by April.
About $1 million has been set-aside for the scheme from the green issues fund agreed between the Government and the Green Party at the Budget in June 2000.
The scheme will provide up to $20,000 to non-profit environment and community groups, including iwi and hapu, who are presenting cases to the Environment Court. It will also provide grants for education and advisory services on legal processes. A separate grants scheme to either assist or establish environment centres has also been set up.
Applicants should contact the Ministry or visit 'What's New' at www.mfe.govt.nz
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