Tony Watkins

NZIA Submissions on Agenda 21

This position paper presents to architects in a condensed format the key elements of the NZIA Environment Group’s response to the Agenda 21 Document on “Promoting sustainable human settlement development” submitted to Preparatory Committee Four in New York.
Copies of the full document are available from the NZIA Environment Group.
During the negotiating process in New York many, but by no means all, of the New Zealand submissions were incorporated into the document which went forward to the Earth Summit in Brazil. Position Paper 11 summarise key elements of the document which was finally adopted in Rio de Janeiro.

The Resource Management Act

This position paper alerts architects to the significant changes brought about by the Resource Management Act in response to growing concern about the deterioration of the environment, and makes the long and complex legislation accessible in an easy-to-follow format. It is also intended to stimulate discussion among architects about the radical changes of direction envisaged for our profession. It is not intended as a legal document, and architects are advised to refer to the legislation itself to clarify any legal matters.

Section 1, Chapter 7, Agenda 21

This position paper alerts architects to the significance of selected aspects of the Agenda 21 document on “Promoting sustainable human settlement development” which was adopted by the New Zealand Government at the Earth Summit (The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. Agenda 21 is a non-mandatory policy document.

This position paper alerts architects to the significance of the use of the word “shelter” as an international cornerstone in our perception of architecture. A critical first move in implementing the NZIA Environmental Policy is to see the built environment not as “sheltering” us from a hostile and unfriendly natural world, but rather as enabling us to relate more closely to a natural environment which wants to give us life.