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State of the environment publications

Indicator reporting/General publications | Independent Reports | Technical reports | Best practice guides and guidelines

State of the environment reporting may include:

  • comprehensive state of the environment reports which report on the full set of national environmental indicators
  • environmental ‘report cards’ (which provide updated data for a particular indicator)
  • issue-based ‘snapshot’ reports (which provide quantitative information on a specific issue)
  • other technical reporting, including survey reports
  • best practice guidance and guidelines
  • independent reports and reviews.

Indicator reporting/General publications

Name Date Reference
Our Water: Groundwater quality November 2009 INFO 457
Environmental report card: Fishing Activity - Fish Stocks September 2009 INFO 436
Our Rivers information sheets September 2009 INFO 432A–D
Environmental report card: Energy Supply and Demand July 2009 INFO 421
Environmental report card: Solid Waste Composition July 2009 INFO 420
Environmental report card: Household Consumption Expenditure April 2009 INFO 400
Environmental report card: Vehicle kilometres travelled by road March 2009 INFO 358
A Technical Guide to New Zealand’s Environmental Indicators March 2009 ME 925
Reporting on New Zealand's Environment: How the national environmental reporting programme works February 2009 ME 921

Environmental report card: Air quality (Particulate Matter - PM10)

February 2009

INFO 363

Environmental report card: Marine areas with legal protection December 2008 INFO 353
Environmental Indicators Quarterly Quarterly INFO 296
INFO 343
INFO 375
INFO 417
INFO 429
Environment New Zealand 2007 information sheets June 2008 INFO 280A - INFO 280J
Environment New Zealand 2007 – Summary December 2007 ME848
Environment New Zealand 2007 December 2007 ME847
OECD Environmental Performance Review of NZ April 2007 -
Reporting on our Environment October 2006 INFO 169
Gentle Footprints: Boots 'n' All May 2006 ME738
OECD Environmental Performance Review of NZ September 2005 -
Land Environments of New Zealand April 2003 -
Triple Bottom Line Pilot Report (full report and summaries) December 2002 ME457
ME458
ME459
ME460
The State of New Zealand’s Environment 1997 1997 ME612

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Independent reports

Name Date Reference
Environment New Zealand 2007 - Independent Review July 2008 CR47

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Technical reports

Air

Name Date Reference
Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) - Annual Reports Annual ME948, ME943, ME825 , ME749, ME680, TR95 , TR94 , TR93, TR92
Good Practice Guide for Air Quality Monitoring and Data Management 2009 April 2009 ME933
Environmental report card: Air quality (Particulate Matter - PM10) February 2009 INFO 363
Air quality in airsheds July 2008  
Global Environmental Monitoring System(GEMS) - Annual Reports July 2007 ME825
Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand - final report June 2007  
Monitoring air quality in New Zealand June 2007 INFO 195
Global Environmental Monitoring System(GEMS) - Annual Reports June 2006 ME749
Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand: Christchurch Pilot Study August 2005  
Amenity Effects of PM10 and TSP Concentrations in New Zealand August 2003 AQTR41
Health Effects of PM10 in New Zealand August 2003 AQTR39
Monitoring of PM10 in New Zealand August 2003 AQTR40
Visibility in New Zealand – National Risk Assessment October 2000 AQTR18
Preliminary Assessment of Human Health Indicators of Air Quality June 1999 AQTR55
Draft core set of national air quality indicators: Report of focus workshop on development of environmental indicators for air July 1996 TR1
NIWA: National ambient air quality monitoring network for New Zealand June 1995 TR2

Biodiversity

Name Date Reference
A Snapshot of Council Effort to Address Indigenous Biodiversity on Private Land: A Report Back to Councils June 2004 ME523
Environmental Performance Indicators: An analysis of potential indicators for terrestrial biodiversity November 1998 TR47

Climate Change/Atmosphere

Name Date Reference
New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990 - 2007: An overview April 2009 ME926
New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990 - 2007 April 2009 ME928

A Flowchart of New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Emissions

October 2008

 

New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Removals from Land Use & Land-use Change & Forestry (LULUCF) October 2008  
Guidance for Voluntary, Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting: Data and methods for the 2007 calendar year September 2008 ME904
Net Position Report 2008: Projected balance of emissions units during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol May 2008 ME884
New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990–2006 April 2008 ME885
New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2006: An Overview April 2008 ME872
Guidance for Voluntary, Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting: Data and methods for the 2006 calendar year April 2008 ME871
Review of New Zealand’s 2007 Net Position Report November 2007 CR42
Projected balance of emissions units during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol September 2007 ME808
New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2005 July 2007 ME811
Annual Report on Climate Change Policy and Implementation June 2006  
Projected balance of emissions units during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol June 2006  
National Inventory Report: 1990-2004 April 2006  
Review of Climate Change Policies November 2005  
Review of New Zealand's net position October 2005  
Analysis of the economic impacts of climate change projections in New Zealand 2005 October 2005  
Annual Report on Climate Change Policy Implementation 2004/2005 June 2005  
Projected balance of units during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol May 2005  
National Inventory Report: 1990-2003 April 2005  
Report on revised projections for the Kyoto Protocol - first commitment period 30 April 2004 July 2004  
Annual Report on Climate Change Policy Implementation July 2004  
National Inventory Report: 1990-2002 April 2004  
Emission Inventories for CO, NOx, SO2, ozone, benzene and benzo(a)pyrene in New Zealand November 2003 AQTR44
Health effects of CO, NO2, SO2, ozone, benzene and benzo(a)pyrene in New Zealand November 2003 AQTR43
Monitoring of CO, NO2, SO2, ozone, benzene and benzo(a)pyrene in New Zealand October 2003 AQTR42
National Inventory Report: 1990-2001 April 2003  
Economic modelling reports  Various dates  

Fresh water

Name Date Reference
National groundwater quality indicators update: state and trends 1995-2008 September 2009 CR78
Trends in nuisance periphyton cover at New Zealand National River Water Quality Network sites 1990-2006 August 2009 CR70
On tap?: Attitudes, behaviours and perceptions of household water use - informing demand management July 2009 ME949
Water Quality in Selected Dairy Farming Catchments: A baseline to support future water-quality trend assessments July 2009 ME944
Freshwater recreational water quality reporting July 2009  
Water quality trends at National River Water Quality Network sites for 1989–2007 March 2009 CR63
Temporal and land-cover trends in freshwater fish communities in New Zealand's rivers: an analysis of data from the New Zealand Freshwater Database - 1970 - 2007 March 2009 CR 62

An Assessment of Regional Council Water Quality Data (1996–2002) in Support of National State of Environment Reporting (ENZ07)

March 2008

CR33

A User Guide for the Macroinvertebrate Community Index 2007 CR10
Freshwater recreational water quality reporting August 2007  
Groundwater Quality in New Zealand: State and Trends 1995–2006 August 2007 ME832
Lake Water Quality in New Zealand: Status in 2006 and recent trends 1990–2006 August 2007 ME831
Snapshot of Lake Water Quality in New Zealand November 2006 ME776
Snapshot of Water Allocation in New Zealand November 2006 ME782
State and Trends in the National River Water Quality Network (1989-2005) November 2006 ME778
A Cultural Health Index for Streams and Waterways: A tool for nationwide use April 2006 ME710
Nationwide and regional state and trends in river water quality 1996-2002 February 2005 ME590
Spatial patterns in state and trends of environmental quality in New Zealand rivers: an analysis for State of Environment reporting February 2005 ME589
Levels of E. coli in New Zealand rivers December 2004 -
A review of short-term management options for Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti December 2003  
A Cultural Health Index for Streams and Waterways: Indicators for recognising and expressing Māori values June 2003 ME475
Freshwater Microbiology Research Programme Report: Pathogen Occurrence and Human Health Risk Assessment Analysis November 2002 TR122
Discussion document for the development of a National Groundwater Data Centre in New Zealand October 2002 TR72
Survey of Regional Council River Water Quality Monitoring Programmes November 2001 TR70
Groundwater Resource Management – Information Gaps Analysis September 2001 TR111
Evaluation of Low Flow Guidelines for Instream Values June 2001 TR108
Lake Ngaroto Restoration: A Case Study June 2001 ME397
Water Allocation – A Strategic Overview May 2001 TR107
Application of the River Ecosystem Management Framework to water allocation management March 2001 TR105
Monitoring the Trophic Status of New Zealand’s Lakes March 2001  
New Zealand Periphyton Guidelines: Detecting, Monitoring and Managing Enrichment of Streams June 2000 ME359
Information on Water Allocation in New Zealand April 2000 TR96
The New Zealand Stream Health Monitoring and Assessment Kit (SHMAK) 1998 (NIWA)
Environmental Performance Indicators: An analysis of potential indicators for freshwater biodiversity November 1998 TR48
Environmental Performance Indicators: Summary of Proposed Indicators for Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity November 1998 ME299
Environmental Performance Indicators for Groundwater May 1998 TR38
Environmental indicators for the sustainable management of fresh water January 1997 TR4

Land

Name Date Reference
Water Quality in Selected Dairy Farming Catchments: A baseline to support future water-quality trend assessments July 2009 ME944
National Soil Quality Review and Programme Design January 2003 TR74
Environmental performance indicators: A proposed land indicators framework for Environment Bay of Plenty May 2002 TR27
A summary of techniques for measuring soil erosion November 2001 TR69
Soil Intactness/ Erosion Monitoring Techniques: A literature review February 2001 TR62
A proposal for Land Cover Database 2 June 2000 TR61
Proposed indicators for erosion-prone hill country in New Zealand March 1999 TR53
Trialling environmental performance indicators for arable soils on the Canterbury Plains June 1998 TR29
A pilot survey linking stage 1 state and pressure indicators in Bay of Plenty June 1998 TR28
Land indicators for national environmental monitoring - Part 7: Summary Report April 1997 TR12
Land indicators for national environmental monitoring - Part 6: Prioritisation of land monitoring parameters and indicators April 1997 TR11
Land indicators for national environmental monitoring - Part 5: Land monitoring model April 1997 TR10
Land indicators for national environmental monitoring - Part 4: Comparison of monitoring approaches April 1997 TR9
Land Indicators for national environmental monitoring - Part 3: Evaluation of Taranaki, Otago and land report indicators against policy framework April 1997 TR8
Land indicators for national environmental monitoring - Part 2: Proposed monitoring for sustainable land in Otago April 1997 TR7
Land indicators for national environmental monitoring - Part 1A: New Zealand Land Resource Inventory April 1997 TR6
Land indicators for national environmental monitoring - Part 1: Monitoring sustainable land use in the eastern Taranaki hill country April 1997 TR5
Land: Review of international literature, draft framework & indicators November 1996 TR35

Oceans

Name Date Reference
Environmental report card: Fishing Activity - Fish Stocks September 2009 INFO 436
Coastal sites recreational water quality reporting August 2009  
Environmental report card: Marine areas with legal protection December 2008 INFO 353
Coastal recreational water quality reporting August 2008  
The New Zealand Marine Environment Classification June 2005 ME594
Planning for Climate Change Effects on Coastal Margins September 2001 ME410

Confirmed indicators for the marine environment

June 2001

ME398

An analysis of potential indicators for marine biodiversity November 1998 TR44
Environmental Performance Indicators: an analysis of potential indicators for fishing impacts November 1998 TR43
Environmental Performance Indicators: Summary of Proposed Indicators for the Marine Environment November 1998 ME296
Environmental Performance Indicators: Marine environment potential indicators for physical and chemical processes, and human uses and values September 1998 TR45
Potential coastal and estuarine indicators - a review of current research and data November 1997 TR40
Monitoring and indicators of the coastal and estuarine environment - a literature review June 1997 TR39

 

RMA Surveys

Name Date Reference
RMA Survey of Local Authorities: 2007/2008 survey June 2009 ME937
RMA Survey of Local Authorities: 2005/2006 survey March 2007 ME797
RMA Survey of Local Authorities: 2003/2004 survey March 2005 ME797
RMA Survey of Local Authorities: 2001/2002 survey June 2003 ME472
RMA Survey of Local Authorities: 1999/2000 survey June 2001  
RMA Survey of Local Authorities: 1998/1999 survey July 2000 ME357
RMA Survey of Local Authorities: 1997/1998 survey July 1999 ME320
RMA Survey of Local Authorities: 1996/1997 Survey June 1998 ME273

Waste

Name Date Reference
Environmental report card: Solid Waste Composition July 2009 INFO 420
Solid Waste Audits for Ministry for the Environment Data Programme 2007/08 December 2008 CR56
The 2006/07 National Landfill Census October 2007 ME842
Wellington “waste catchment” trial: An investigation into a new model for waste monitoring April 2007  
The 2002 Landfill Review and Audit Report March 2003 ME466
Solid Waste Analysis Protocol March 2002 ME430
Confirmed indicators for solid waste, hazardous waste and contaminated sites September 2000 ME344
The 1998/99 National Landfill Census Report April 2000 ME335
Environmental Performance Indicators: Summary of Proposals for Waste, Hazardous Substances and Toxic Contaminants October 1998 ME292
The 1995 National Landfill Census - Project update March 1994 ME230

Other

Name Date Reference
Metadata reports on environmental databases, classification systems and spatial frameworks various dates TR99; TR98;
TR89; TR88
Ecological Footprints of New Zealand and its Regions September 2003 TR130
Environmental Metadata Framework September 2002 TR73
Headline indicators for tracking progress to sustainability in New Zealand March 2002 TR71
Urban Amenity Trials Report October 2000 TR65
Key Urban Amenity Approaches September 2000 TR64
Urban Amenity Indicators: The liveability of our urban environments June 2000 TR63
Hauraki Customary Indicators Report June 1999 TR57
Proposed Approach to Indicators for Urban Amenity June 1999 TR54
A Draft Environmental Thesaurus for New Zealand March 1999 TR51
Review of Environmental Performance Indicators for Toxic Contaminants in the environment - air, water and land October 1998 TR37
The Needs Analysis: Final Report September 1998 TR32
Urban Amenity Indicators Workshop Report July 1998 TR21
The pilot needs analysis May 1998 TR25

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Best practice guides and guidelines

Name Date Reference
Good Practice Guide for Air Quality Monitoring and Data Management 2009 April 2009 ME933

An Introduction to Drinking Water Contaminants, Treatment and Management

June 2008

CR 45

A Guide to the Ministry of Health Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand

June 2008

CR 44

Proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels: Discussion Document March 2008 ME868
Draft Guidelines for the Selection of Methods to Determine Ecological Flows and Water Levels March 2008 CR 20
A National Protocol for State of the Environment Groundwater Sampling in New Zealand December 2006 ME781
Using the Cultural Health Index: How to assess the health of streams and waterways February 2006 ME711
Culvert and Bridge Construction: Guidelines for Farmers October 2004 ME549
Monitoring and Data Management Protocol: Environmental Indicators for Transport May 2004 ME511
Keeping our coastal waters clean January 2004 INFO 49
Kaimoana Survey Guidelines for Hapu and Iwi October 2003 ME490
ME490A
Microbiological Water Quality Guidelines for Marine and Freshwater Recreational Areas June 2003 ME474
Lake Manager’s Handbook: Fish in New Zealand Lakes June 2002 ME445
Lake Manager’s Handbook: Alien Invaders June 2002 ME444
Lake Manager’s Handbook: Lake Level Management June 2002 ME443
Lake Manager’s Handbook: Land-Water Interactions June 2002 ME442
Protocols for sampling macroinvertebrates in wadeable streams November 2001 -
Managing Waterways on Farms : A guide to sustainable water and riparian management in rural New Zealand July 2001 ME385
ANZECC water quality guidelines for fresh and marine water quality October 2000 -
Stream Periphyton Monitoring Manual June 2000 SMF5092
New Zealand Periphyton Guidelines: Detecting, Monitoring and Managing Enrichment of Streams June 2000 ME359
Protocol for Monitoring Trophic Levels of New Zealand Lakes and Reservoirs March 2000 SMF5090
“Trigger” values for New Zealand rivers May 2000 -
Using River Habitat Classification in Regional Plans March 2000 ME337
The Use of Macroinvertebrates in Water Management March 1999 ME311
Flow Guidelines for Instream Values May 1998 ME270
ME271
Reducing the Impacts of Agricultural Runoff on Water Quality June 1997 ME237
Reasonable mixing – A discussion of reasonable mixing in water quality management August 1994 -
Water Quality Guidelines No.2: Colour and Clarity June 1994 ME142
Water Quality Guidelines No.1: Biological Growths 1992 -

 

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