Week 3 - AEE

1.2. Historical Context

The concepts underpinning the RMA were based on developments in both international and local thinking over the previous 20 years. The 1972 Stockholm United Nations Conference on Environment and Development provided the first forum for international debate on concepts such as integrated environmental management and sustainable development.

A subsequent audit of New Zealand's environmental management by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in 1980, highlighted the need to improve environmental management locally. 

The AEE supported a trend towards better environmental management and included the consideration of people as part of this process.  However, it does not include all facets of environmental management, for example, mining (which has. in part, led to the heated debates around mining on Great Barrier Island).  Many activities which are not directly included in the AEE process as still impacted more indirectly by the RMA.