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Proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels:
Discussion Document

The Ministry for the Environment is proposing a national environmental standard on ecological flows and water levels to facilitate the sustainable management of New Zealand’s water resource. It intends to promote consistency in the way decisions are made to ensure sufficient variability and quantity of water flowing in rivers, ground water systems, lakes, and wetlands.

This discussion document, outlining the subject matter and rationale of the proposed standard, has been produced to assist people in making submissions.

See public notice: Call for submissions on the proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels for details of the submission process.

Acknowledgements

The Ministry for the Environment would like to thank the following people who have assisted in the preparation of this discussion document and the development of the proposed national environmental standard.

Members of a working group

  • Fred McLay (Taranaki Regional Council)

  • Scott Bagley / Claire Graeme (Department of Conservation)

  • Kay Booth (Lincoln University / Kay Booth and Associates)

  • Hugh Canard (New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association)

  • Neil Deans (Fish and Game New Zealand)

  • Murray Doak / Misty Skinner (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry)

  • Matt Harcombe (Federated Farmers of New Zealand)

  • Terry Heiler (Irrigation New Zealand)

  • Matt Hickey (Otago Regional Council)

  • Ian Jowett (National Institute of Water and Atmosphere, NIWA)

  • Raewyn Moss (Meridian Energy)

  • David O’Connell (Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu)

  • Jim Sinner (Ecologic Foundation)

  • Alistair Smaill (Auckland Regional Council)

  • Hugh Stevenson (Selwyn Plantation Board)

  • John Talbot (Environment Canterbury).

The working group provided advice on the content of the proposed standard and had many robust debates about its content and the wider context of environmental flow decisions. Discussions by the group have informed this discussion document and, in particular, the questions presented herein about the proposal. The discussion document does not represent a consensus view from the working group, nor should it be assumed that members endorse the proposal as set out. Members and their organisations are entitled to make submissions in support or against the proposal.

Assistance with preparation of the discussion document:

  • Darryl Lew (formerly Opus)

  • Brydon Hughes (Sinclair, Knight and Mertz Pty, SKM).

Scientists’ report on ecological methods:

  • Jim Cooke, Tom Heller and Greg Pollock (Beca Infrastructure)

  • Ian Jowett, Clive Howard-Williams, Brian Sorrell and Barry Biggs (NIWA)

  • Paul White (Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences)

  • Ian McIndoe (Aqualinc Research Ltd)

  • John Hayes (Cawthron Institute)

  • Russell Death (Massey University – Department of Ecology).

Peer review of scientists’ report:

  • Alistair Smaill (Auckland Regional Council)

  • Matt Hickey (Otago Regional Council)

  • Dave Kelly, Michel Dedual, Bruno David and Murray Neilson (Department of Conservation).

Preparation of the preliminary cost-benefit assessment:

  • Sinclair Knight Merz.