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Surveys and monitoring

In addition to five-yearly state of the environment reports and interim updates of indicator information (environmental report cards), the national environmental reporting programme also carries out surveys and undertakes its own environmental monitoring, when other data sources are not available.

Surveys

Resource Management Act (RMA) survey

The Ministry for the Environment surveys all New Zealand councils (regional, territorial and unitary) every two years about their RMA processes.

Since the first survey in 1996, nine RMA surveys have been completed. The next survey will be carried out in 2010/2011.

Did you know?

  • Over 45,000 resource consents have been processed by local government authorities every year since 1996.
  • Every year, about 60 per cent of these resource consents are land use consents.
  • Every year, about 5 per cent of the resource consents are publicly notified.

Key findings from surveys of local authority implementation of the RMA.

National Landfill Census

The 2006/2007 National Landfill Census Report provides an update on the state of play of landfill sites across New Zealand. Building on the results from the 2002 Landfill Review and Audit, the 2006/2007 census found that there have been improvements in all aspects of landfill design and operation.

Monitoring

Global Environmental Monitoring Systems (GEMS)

The Ministry for the Environment has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health to collect and supply air quality monitoring data to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from three sites, in Auckland and Christchurch.

This data has historically formed New Zealand’s contribution to the WHO’s Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) which began in 1973.

Solid Waste Audits

In 2002, the Ministry began the Solid Waste Analysis Protocol (SWAP) Data Programme, which involved generating solid waste composition information at four indicator sites around New Zealand and periodically updating this data to establish longitudinal trends. In 2003/2004 quarterly waste audits were undertaken over a two-year period at four sites, one rural and one urban, in both the North and South Islands.

In 2007/2008 four quarterly waste audits were undertaken at the same sites to update the data from the 2003/2004 audits. This updated information also assists with monitoring the goals in The New Zealand Waste Strategy.

National Landfill Review and Audit

The 2002 Landfill Review and Audit Project provides a clear picture of the risks associated with landfills (eg, contamination of groundwater) in this country, by assessing relative risks on a consistent basis nationwide using the Landfill Rapid Screening System (LRSS). The Landfill Review and Audit enables the Ministry to understand where the most serious risks are located and provides a more accurate picture than was previously available.

Dairying and Clean Streams Accord snapshot reports

On 26 May 2003, the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord was agreed between Fonterra Co-operative Group, the Minister for the Environment, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and regional councils.

The Accord aims to minimise the impact of dairying on New Zealand’s streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands so that they are suitable, where appropriate, for fish, drinking by stock and swimming. The Accord specifies targets to keep dairy cattle out of streams, lakes and wetlands, to treat farm effluent, and to manage the use of fertilisers and other nutrients.

Snapshot of progress reports by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry outline work done each year to achieve the targets and objectives of the Accord.

Monitoring the effects of land use on fresh water in dairying catchments is undertaken by regional councils and research agencies (eg, NIWA and AgResearch) and information is periodically collated for national reporting purposes.

Other monitoring reports

National-scale state of environment reporting draws on data and information from background technical reports. These technical reports are typically domain-specific (ie, report on air, fresh water or waste, etc) and are data-rich.

Last updated: August 2009