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October 2020This report assesses the suitability of using New Zealand Rural Fire Authority’s Fire Danger Rating System as an indicator on wildfire risk for the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ’s environmental reporting. Read more -
October 2020This report describes the climate datasets that were supplied by NIWA for use in Our atmosphere and climate 2020, and outlines the methodologies used to generate them. Read more -
May 2020This report scopes the potential development of a land-use intensity indicator for environmental reporting. Read more -
October 2019This report updates indices for coastal and ocean extreme waves previously developed to quantify the occurrence of extreme wave events in New Zealand on an annual basis. Read more -
October 2019This report provides new coastal chlorophyll-a and sea-surface temperature analyses within New Zealand’s territorial waters. Read more -
October 2019This report updates previously published data (2015) on coastal sea-surface temperature from 11 sites around New Zealand. Read more -
October 2019This report updates indicators for non-indigenous species with new data compiled since 2016. Read more -
October 2019This report updates previously published statistics on mean sea-level series and trends at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, New Plymouth and Moturiki (Mount Maunganui) to the end of 2018. Read more -
April 2019This report updates the state and trends of water quality of coastal and estuarine waters for physico-chemical (eg, pH), optical (eg clarity), nutrients (eg, nitrates), and microbiological parameters (eg, enterococci). Read more -
February 2019This review was carried out to improve understanding of marine habitats in New Zealand. Read more -
July 2018In 2017, the Government strengthened the regulatory framework for the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas structures and pipelines in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This includes a new requirement for operators to provide a decommissioning plan before applying for a decommissioning-related marine consent. Read more -
October 2017This report describes the rainfall indices and datasets used in the measure of rainfall intensity in the Environmental indicators Te taiao Aotearoa series. Read more -
October 2017This report describes the methodology used to calculate wind gust indices used in the measure of Extreme wind in the Environmental indicators Te taiao Aotearoa series. Read more -
October 2017This report describes and outlines the methodologies used to generate, the updated datasets acquired from NIWA for Our atmosphere and climate 2017. Read more -
October 2017This report details the methodologies underlying updated estimates of glacier ice volume change in New Zealand. The estimates were used in the measure of Annual glacier ice volumes in the Environmental indicators Te taiao Aotearoa series. Read more -
August 2017The Government is considering how best to manage the deposit of jettisoned material from space launch vehicles in the wider EEZ and extended continental shelf and is seeking feedback on its proposed regulation. Read more -
August 2017This report assesses the environmental risks to the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf of threats arising from jettisoned material from space launch vehicles. Read more -
September 2016The scoping project for reporting on 'te ao Maori' identified national high priority areas, suggested how these priority areas could be measured and whether or not the data is currently available. Read more -
August 2016The Government is considering how best to manage space vehicle launches and is seeking feedback on its proposed regulation. Read more -
August 2016This report assesses the environmental risks to the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf of threats arising from jettisoned material from space launch vehicles. Read more -
March 2016This report priorities suggested improvements to enhance and expand air domain reporting. Read more -
January 2016This consultation document sets out the Government’s proposal for a new approach to marine protection in New Zealand. The submission period has now closed. Read more -
January 2016New Zealand's submission to the International Seabed Authority to support the development of a regulatory framework for the exploitation of seabed minerals. Read more -
November 2015The Government recently consulted on proposed topics for national environmental reporting. This document includes the proposed topic list and supporting information. Submissions closed on 23 December 2015. Read more -
September 2015Citizen science is emerging as a new source of data that could potentially be used in environmental monitoring and reporting. This project looked at the Garden Bird Survey as an example of a citizen science dataset. Read more -
October 2014This report provides recommendations for new sites to improve representativeness in the New Zealand river environmental monitoring network. Read more -
May 2014The technical report commissioned to provide us with some of the data used in the 2014 Air domain report. Read more -
March 2014This document summarises the submissions received on the exposure draft of regulations for exploration drilling for oil and gas under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 and presents the main issues and themes raised. Read more -
February 2014This NIWA report is a risk-based assessment of the spectrum of environmental effects of discharging tailings and sediments from the prospecting and exploration stages of mineral mining operations into the marine environment, considering all aspects of risk to the marine environment. Read more -
February 2014In 2014, the Government sought feedback on an exposure draft of the EEZ and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects—Discharge and Dumping) Regulations 2014. This supporting information explains the exposure draft process, details the proposals, and how to make a submission. Read more -
December 2013An investigation into the feasibility of using freshwater fish predictive models in national state of the environment indicators. Read more -
December 2013An assessment of the representativeness and statistical power of state of environment river monitoring sites across New Zealand. Read more -
December 2013The aim of a Composite River Condition Index for New Zealand is to combine a number of sub-indices to communicate a representative holistic picture of river condition. This report investigates three indices and discusses limitations and areas for improvement. Read more -
December 2013This document summarises the submissions received on the Activity Classifications under the EEZ Act discussion document and presents the main issues and themes raised. Read more -
December 2013In 2013, the Government sought feedback on an exposure draft of the proposed exploratory drilling for oil and gas regulations under the EEZ Act. This document provided supporting information for the consultation. Consultation closed 31 January 2014. Read more -
November 2013This scientific study aggregates the estimated farm level and point source nutrient discharges to downstream water quality concentrations of nitrate (N), phosphorus (P) and E. coli for 73 monitored sites in the Southland region. Read more -
August 2013This discussion document sought feedback on the Government’s proposals for regulating exploratory drilling for oil and gas, discharges of harmful substances, and dumping of waste in New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Submissions closed on 25 September 2013. Read more -
July 2013A comparison study of different predictive macroinvertebrate models. An approach is recommended and this is used to predict macroinvertebrate community condition in unmonitored reaches. Read more -
July 2013This report details the approach used to compile regional council and NIWA water quality data sets, calculate state and trends, and develop predictive models of water quality parameters. The modelling is used to predict water quality in unmonitored reaches. Read more -
April 2013This report develops definitions for biogenic (biologically formed) and geological environments identified as sensitive by National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the Ministry. Read more -
May 2012This discussion document sought feedback on proposed regulations for managing the environmental effects in New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf. Submissions on the discussion document have now closed. Read more -
May 2012This independent report prepared for the Ministry by NIWA lists the known possible activities in the EEZ and describes their likely risk to the environment. It also recommends how activities could be classified under the proposed regulatory framework. Read more -
August 2011In 2011, the Government consulted on the proposal for an Environmental Reporting Bill. This consultation document sought people’s input and views on the proposed options for improving national state of the environment reporting in New Zealand. Submissions closed on 18 October 2011. Read more -
May 2011This booklet outlines the outcome of the consultation process on the proposed National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry. Read more -
November 2010This report provides a national picture of current status (2005–2009) and trends in water quality of New Zealand lakes. It updates the 2006 report ‘A snapshot of lake water quality in New Zealand’. Read more -
September 2009This report provides an update of results for indicators of groundwater quality in New Zealand. It summarises average water quality at almost 1000 monitoring sites over the period 1995-2008, as well as trends at the same sites within that period of time. Read more -
March 2009This report summarises changes in fish communities in New Zealand rivers, including changes in relation to different land uses. Read more -
July 2008The Ministry commissioned an independent review to obtain stakeholder feedback on the readability, content and overall usefulness of the Environment New Zealand 2007 report. Read more -
March 2008This technical report estimates the extent of dioxin contamination at sawmill sites in New Zealand where pentachlorophenol (known as PCP) was used as a timber treatment in sprays or dips until its withdrawal in 1988. Read more -
December 2007A report was commissioned in 2007 to investigate risk management options available to the aquaculture industry and regional and unitary authorities. Read more