Problem overview:

     Policies and measures: Changing laws and regulations are not always reflected in what government officers actually do. The Commissioner for the Environment investigates complaints about environmentally unfriendly behaviour on the part of government agencies.

Background in summary:

     The Commissioner for the Environment: is an officer of Parliament who, with the objective of maintaining and improving the quality of the environment, reviews and provides advice on the system of agencies and processes established by the Government to manage the allocation, use and protection of natural and physical resources.

     An independent authority: The Commissioner is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the House of Representatives and holds office for five years. The Commissioner is independent of the executive arm of government and may only be removed or suspended from office by the Governor-General.

     The Commissioner has the power to:

1. Obtain information and examine on oath any person;
   
   
2. Appear and be heard at any proceedings relating to the obtaining of statutory consents and;
   
   
3. Employ staff and consultants to provide technical and administrative services.
   
   

     Always open for feedback and complaints: Anyone can go directly to the Commissioner if they think some part of the plan is not working, a government agency is not doing its job, or the environment is being harmed. They need to try and work things out with the government agency responsible first. If that does not correct things, they go to the Commissioner who can conduct an investigation and take the matter before Parliament.

Peer Review Committee Good practice rating: (1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score)
Sustainability		Efficiency
2	Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other.	2	Cost efficient.
2	Sustainable over time (not one-off)	Process
Adaptability		2	Participation of the community
2	Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?)	2	Participation of resource owners/users
2	Socio-cultural adaptability.	2	Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private)
2	Level of development adaptability.	-	Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments.
2	Style of government adaptability.	-	Ability to attract political interest/support
2	Degree of decentralization adaptability.	2	Procedures for feedback and review.
Comments on this example:       The Commissioner for the Environment plays an advisory role and can sway political views and thus control the policy decisions of any government agency on environmental performance. Sustainability of the project:   Adaptability of the project to other situations:       The concept of one branch of government reviewing the actions of other ministries has precedence in most forms of government, but the concept has rarely been applied to environmental issues and is not always open to public participation. Having an office specifically to review government performance on environmental issues is clearly advantageous to any objective review and feedback process.       Governments that do not sanction decentralization or freedom of information would no doubt limit the distribution of any reviews and reports. The New Zealand office, incidentally, has a mandate to maintain secrecy. Process of decision making and implementation:      Policies and measures: Establishing the Commissioner for the Environment will help improve the action of the government in managing, allocating and protecting the environment and natural resources. It functions as an auditor and reflects the other side of the coin, so that, every positive or negative effects from government actions will be considered before making any final decisions. Setting up this authoritative structure will surely help improve the efficiency of the Government, although, under the conditions that the Commissioner works unbiased and uninfluenced by anything except for the purpose of managing, allocating and protecting the environment. Cost efficiency: