Environmental Protection Authority (New Zealand)

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Environmental Protection Authority" New Zealand – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Environmental Protection Authority
Te Mana Rauhī Taiao

Agency overview
Formed	1 July 2011
Jurisdiction	New Zealand
Headquarters	Wellington, New Zealand
Minister responsible	Hon Penny Simmonds
Agency executives	Dr Allan Freeth, Chief Executive[1] Julie Hardaker, Chair of the Board
Website	www.epa.govt.nz

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) (Māori: Te Mana Rauhī Taiao) is a New Zealand government agency (Crown entity/agent). It is New Zealand's national-level environmental regulator. Its vision is "an environment protected, enhancing our way of life and the economy."^[2]

As a Crown agent under the Crown entity model, the EPA operates at arm’s length from Ministers. Its independence in decision making is protected by statute and the established governance structures. A letter of expectations is issued annually by its responsible Ministers which, within the context of its independence, sets out the broad expectations of the Government of the day.