Hamilton lawyer Julie Hardaker has been appointed chairperson of the Environmental Protection Authority Board.

The EPA board is responsible for the EPA’s governance. The EPA makes decisions for and regulates hazardous substances and new organisms as well as specified marine activities in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

It also provides administrative support for the decision-making on major infrastructure and called in projects under the Resource Management Act and operates the New Zealand Emissions Trading Register under the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Ms Hardaker is a director of the law firm Julie Hardaker Ltd, which provides governance advice and specialises in public and employment law.

She was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in June 1995 and was Mayor of Hamilton from 2010 to 2016. She received of the Order of Te Arikinui Queen Te Atarangikaahu in 2016 for services to Māori, and has a strong interest in environmental issues and protection.