AN EFFECTS-BASED APPROACH TO REGULATING THE PULP AND PAPER-INDUSTRY -THE NEW-ZEALAND SCENE

New Zealand's primary environmental legislation, the Resource Manageme nt Act (RMA), was enacted in 1991. The RMA is effects based rather tha n activity based and is intended to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. A number of New Zealand's pulp and paper mills are now coming under the permitting requirements of the R MA. The prime environmental concerns have been associated with the two kraft mills, and include dissolved oxygen, color, toxicity, nutrients and impacts on fisheries. This paper presents a case study of one of these mills and discusses the regulatory approach which is to be adopt ed under the constraints of the RMA. (C) 1997 IAWQ.