You are here: Laws and treaties 
National environmental standards
National environmental standard for measurement of water takes
A proposed National Environmental Standard for Measurement of Water Takes is currently being drafted into regulation.
This will help improve the management of fresh water by ensuring accurate measuring of the extent of water takes. (“Water takes” means water taken from source, including rivers, lakes, dams and aquifers). The standard will set minimum requirements for the installation and operation of new water measuring and recording devices, and for the transfer of data to regional councils.
It will apply to all water takes that need resource consent, but it will not apply to household use of water.
The proposed standard is one of the tools developed under the Sustainable Water Programme of Action and will assist with elements of the programme’s implementation package which require users and regional councils to know how much water is actually taken. For example:
- Voluntary transfer of water take consents.
- Wider establishment of water-user groups.
- Management of environmental flows and over-allocated catchments.
For more information, see the national environmental standards under the RMA.
To read more about the proposed National Environmental Standard for Measurement of Water Takes and the process by which it was developed:
- A discussion document outlining the subject matter and rationale of the proposed standard which has been prepared to assist people in making submissions.
- Cabinet paper: Proposed National Environmental Standard for Measurement of Water Takes
- Regulatory Impact Statement for draft National Environmental Standard for Measurement of Water Takes
Process - where we are at
The diagram below outlines the process for developing a national environmental standard. The arrow indicates what stage the Ministry for the Environment is at in developing the proposed National Environmental Standard for Measurement of Water Takes.
Text description of the diagram
This flow diagram of the NES development process starts with Cabinet approving the scope. This is followed by a public process phase comprising a scoping proposal with stakeholders. This leads to a discussion document. The scoping proposal and discussion document are the informal process.
The public process continues by public notification and a submissions period. This is an 8-week formal process for this NES.
Close of submissions is followed by a phase of analysis which leads to a report on submissions. The report and recommendations including a Section 32 RMA cost-benefit analysis and a Regulatory Impact Assessment are completed and a final proposal is made to the Minister.
The Minister consults his colleagues, the report and recommendations are released, and legal drafting of the standard takes place. Eventually, the draft becomes regulation.
This NES has just completed the report and recommendations stage and is at the legal drafting stage.
A taskforce of interested and relevant stakeholders has been established to guide the implementation of the proposed National Environmental Standard for Measurement of Water Takes. One of the taskforce’s key goals will be to develop a strategic plan for the next two to four years.
Further information
- See the fresh water page for other policies, reports, projects, partnerships, guidelines and tools related to fresh water.
- For more information on standards, see the national environmental standards under the RMA page.
- See the Resource Management Act page which is a gateway to information about the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
- For a full list of publications relating to water refer to the water publications page.
Last updated: 6 January 2009
