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1.0 Introduction

1.1. Purpose

This document was commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment to assist it with implementing the confirmed marine environment indicators for the Environmental Performance Indicators Programme (EPI Programme). The objectives of the EPI Programme are:

• to systematically measure the performance of the Government's environmental policies and legislation
• to better prioritize policy and improve decision-making
• to systematically report on the state of New Zealand's environmental assets

To do this effectively, requires environmental classification to identify and distinguish similar environments. Without consistent environmental classification systems it is difficult to compare information from similar environments and report this nationally (Ministry for the Environment, 1998).

1.2. Scope and linkages

This report addressed New Zealand classification systems for the marine environment. While several EPI Programme marine environment indicators include the terrestrial coastal area adjoining mean high water springs (mhws), terrestrial classification systems were not covered in this review. National classification systems and spatial frameworks that include freshwater and/or terrestrial components as well as marine environment components below mhws were included.

As New Zealand classification systems and spatial frameworks for the marine environment are less well developed compared to terrestrial and freshwater environments, the terms of reference for this report included review of a selection of international marine classification systems and spatial frameworks.

National classification systems and spatial frameworks for land, water, and terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity were reviewed in Froude and Beanland (1999).

Databases for the marine environment were reported in Froude (2000); and for land, water and biodiversity in Froude (1999).