Purpose
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| 1. |
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The University of Waikato is committed
to |
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implementing sustainable practices
on its campus environments, which includes practices for their protection
and restoration; |
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providing leadership locally, nationally
and internationally in resource management, conservation, education
and partnerships that are essential for society to achieve sustainability; |
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meaningful partnerships with Māori
under the Treaty of Waitangi, which includes full recognition of
the role of Māori as kaitiaki of New Zealand’s natural
environment. |
| 2. |
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The University seeks to integrate
its environmental commitment throughout its teaching and research
activities and management actions. The Environmental Policy sets
out the framework for doing so. |
Principles
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| 3. |
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The Environmental Policy sets out
the University’s commitment to |
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give full consideration to the sustainable
use of resources in all of its management decisions; |
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raise awareness of environmental sustainability
and environmental matters generally, and encourage understanding
and responsibility in the use of resources within its own community
and society in general; |
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consult appropriately on matters of
environmental concern; |
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undertake appropriate research and
provide leadership in environmental issues; |
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develop educational resources and
partnerships that will foster sustainable resource management; |
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enhance understanding of environmental
issues through its teaching and research portfolio; |
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contribute to community and government
planning, policy development and debate with a view to ensuring
that environmental matters are taken into account. |
Education and Research
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Teaching Activities
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| 4. |
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The University promotes environmental
issues and sustainability in its teaching activities by |
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developing papers and components of
papers which have a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary studies
and partnerships that are required to address sustainability; |
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encouraging and supporting staff to
incorporate appropriate material on the environment and sustainability
into their teaching programmes; |
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raising awareness of environmental
matters in programmes of staff orientation and development; |
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conducting teaching-related activities
(eg laboratories and field work) in an environmentally sensitive
manner. |
Research
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| 5. |
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The University promotes appropriate
research into environmental matters across a wide range of academic
disciplines. It specifically encourages partnerships with government,
industry and the community, and promotes interdisciplinary research that
provides for tangible outcomes in preservation and restoration of
the environment. |
Sustainable Resource Management and
Conservation
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| 6. |
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The University promotes activities
that conserve and enhance its outstanding natural environment and
seeks to reduce the environmental impacts that arise from the large
transient populations on its campuses. |
| 7. |
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Strategies that the University has
in place to ensure sustainable resource management and conservation
include |
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managing the natural environment to
enhance indigenous biodiversity; |
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promoting participatory approaches
in environmental restoration on its campuses; |
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managing the built environment to
promote sustainability by minimising material, water and energy
use, using natural assets, renewable energy and material sources
effectively, and selecting resources in an environmentally responsible
manner; |
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encouraging staff and students to
make environmentally responsible transportation decisions in their
commuting and work practices; |
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minimising output of solid wastes
and discharges of liquid wastes and airborne contaminants; |
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managing procurement processes to
reduce the production of waste by-products and to forge links with
suppliers committed to environmental goals that are aligned with
this Policy. |
Community Involvement and Public Profile
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| 8. |
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The University is proud of its reputation
as an environmentally and ecologically responsible institution.
It is committed to strengthening and building on this position by
encouraging all staff and students to be exemplars of environmental awareness
and sustainable practice to the wider community. |
| 9. |
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Strategies that the University has
in place to enhance its public profile and encourage community involvement
in environmental matters include |
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promoting environmentally responsible
partnerships with the wider community; |
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ensuring that it’s teaching and research
activities enable all students to become environmentally aware members
of the community; |
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conducting all research in an environmentally
appropriate manner, taking account of its wider environmental implications; |
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conducting its internal and external
business activities in an environmentally responsible manner. |
| 10. |
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Strategies that the University has
in place to demonstrate its commitment to environmental concerns
at the local, national and international levels include |
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promoting environmental responsibility
at all levels of the organisation; |
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sharing resources and information
for community education on environmental matters; |
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providing leadership, as appropriate,
for the investigation and development of community-based strategies
for sustainable resource management. |
| 11. |
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The University seeks ongoing interaction
with community groups and community representatives in relation
to environmental matters. |
Social and Cultural Environment
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| 12. |
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The University of Waikato is committed
to promoting a diverse social and cultural environment. |
Meeting the Objectives of te Tiriti
o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi
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| 13. |
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The role of Māori as kaitiaki
(caretakers, guardians and resource managers) is given statutory
recognition in the Resource Management Act 1991. |
| 14. |
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The responsibilities of kaitiaki are
extensive and aimed primarily at maintaining, preserving and enhancing
the life-sustaining and supporting capacity, or mauri, of the natural
environment. |
| 15. |
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The University promotes full recognition
and provision for the understanding of the role of the tangata whenua
as kaitiaki of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s natural environment. |
| 16. |
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The Tainui iwi is acknowledged as
kaitiaki of the University’s Hamilton campus environment. |
| 17. |
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Strategies that the University has
in place to demonstrate its commitment to the role of Māori
as kaitiaki of the natural environment include |
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incorporating an understanding of
the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori environmental rights,
lore and values into academic programmes where appropriate; |
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promoting and encouraging greater
awareness of the Treaty and Māori rights, lore and values
with respect to the environment among staff, students and the wider
community; |
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encouraging teaching and research
into Māori environmental rights, lore and values; |
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encouraging collaborative teaching
and research with iwi and other Māori organisations; |
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encouraging dedicated funding for
Treaty/environmental research; |
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actively seeking input from Māori/Tangata
Whenua into the implementation of the Environmental Policy. |
| 18. |
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In addition to effective management
of the natural and built environment, respect and recognition of
social and cultural values and rights are essential to achieving
a sustainable future. |
Objectives Relating to the Social
and Cultural Environment
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| 19. |
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The University recognises and respects
the unique social and cultural environment of the University community. |
| 20. |
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Strategies that the University has
in place to enhance this environment, and to reinforce and respect
the social, ethnic and cultural diversity in academic programmes,
include |
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promoting the values of collegiality
and academic freedom among staff and students, and enhancing awareness
of the role of the University as critic and conscience of society
(with reference to the Code of Ethics for Academic Staff and the
University of Waikato Strategic Plan); |
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encouraging research into the enhancement
of social and cultural relationships within the University community
and society in general. |
Statutory Environmental Responsibilities
and Guidelines
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| 21. |
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This Policy has been prepared and
guided by codes of legal compliance and recommended guidelines of
best practice, as set out under sections 22-25. |
Local Agenda 21 (1992)
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| 22. |
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The University seeks to develop appropriate
management structures, partnerships and educational initiatives
to ensure that Local Agenda 21 is adopted as a routine component
of the University’s day-to-day operations. In its broadest sense,
Agenda 21 provides a non-binding framework for action to achieve
sustainability; it owes its existence to the Rio Declaration formulated
at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. |
Resource Management Act 1991
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| 23. |
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The University of Waikato embodies
the principles of the Resource Management Act (1991) by adopting
sustainable management of natural and physical resources in order
to enhance its environmental management processes and develop sustainability
of resource use. |
Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi
(1840)
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| 24. |
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The University’s Charter expresses
the University’s commitment to meaningful partnerships under the
Treaty of Waitangi. A comprehensive statement about the University’s
commitment to the Treaty is provided on page 20. |
| 25. |
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Other relevant legislation and local
government plans |
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Building Act 1991 |
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District Plans |
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Education Act 1989 |
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Hazardous Substances and New Organisms
Act 1997 |
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Health and Safety in Employment Act
1992 |
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Regional Plans and Policy Statements |
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University of Waikato Act 1963 |
Implementation of Environmental Policy
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| 26. |
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An environmental management system
is required to implement the Environmental Policy in a timely, effective
and sustainable manner. |
| 27. |
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The University of Waikato undertakes
to initiate, implement and regularly review a proactive Environmental
Management Plan, which takes into consideration the principles of
sustainability, health and safety, and social and cultural diversity. |
| 28. |
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The Environmental Management Plan
also ensures that the University successfully and proactively meets
the requirements of relevant legislation and local government plans
(refer section 25). |
