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December 2012This publication provides a case study that reflects researchers’ observations and interviews with participants of New Zealand’s first national attempt at collaborative governance in the complex and frequently contested area of freshwater management. Read more -
December 2010This report presents the findings of engagement with Māori and regional councels to gain an understanding of Māori perspectives on water allocation. 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 -
November 2010This report presents a summary of the regional council consent data for water takes between 2009–10. The information in the report has been used to update the freshwater demand environmental indicator. Read more -
September 2010This report provides an assessment of the health of the Waikato River and its catchment. It recommends actions that could be undertaken to restore the river. Read more -
June 2010The report assesses how well Integrated catchment management is working in New Zealand for managing freshwater quality. Read more -
May 2010This report is one of two prepared for the Ministry for the Environment by NIWA, which update national indicator data for river water quality in New Zealand and help provide the evidence base for policy and decision makers. Read more -
May 2010The report is a stocktake of various approaches used to manage demand for fresh water. It looks at national-level and local council initiatives and assesses how widely the initiatives are being used and their effectiveness in meeting water demand management goals. Read more -
May 2010The purpose of this report is to assist, from a science perspective, with developing knowledge about setting limits in water management. Read more -
April 2010This report informs the ‘environmental flows and water measuring’ and ‘water quality limits’ projects commissioned as part of the New Start for Fresh Water programme in 2009. Read more -
February 2010This is the report and recommendations of the Board of Inquiry into the proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011 came into effect on 1 July 2011. Read more -
January 2010This report documents the tools being used to support Māori participation in freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991 and suggests areas that could be further investigated. 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 -
On tap?: Attitudes, behaviours, and perceptions of household water use – informing demand managementJuly 2009This report summarises research on household water use. It presents existing and new consumer research on attitudes to water, population segmentations, behaviours, and barriers and incentives to action. Read more -
July 2009This report summarises changes in nuisance periphyton (algal) growth at National River Water Quality Network sites between 1990 and 2006. Read more -
March 2009This report summarises changes in fish communities in New Zealand rivers, including changes in relation to different land uses. Read more -
February 2009This summary of submissions document presents an overview of submissions received on the proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels: Discussion Document. Read more -
August 2008This report, prepared for the Ministry for the Environment by the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd, identifies the major co-benefits that climate change mitigation measures will offer to water quality and aquatic habitats. Read more -
March 2008This report provides scientific guidelines for the selection of methods to determine ecological flows and water levels for rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater resources. Read more -
March 2008This discussion document sought feedback on the proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels. Submissions closed 31 July 2008. Read more -
November 2007This is the report and recommendation of the special tribunal appointed under section 202 of the Resource Management Act to consider Fish and Game's application for a water conservation order on the Oreti River. Read more -
November 2007This is the summary of the report of the special tribunal appointed under section 202 of the Resource Management Act to consider Fish and Game's application for a water conservation order on the Oreti River. Read more -
April 2007The report recommends that government should take steps to unbundle water permit components. Read more -
March 2007This report considers alternatives to a National Environmental Standard for Sources of Human Drinking-water to determine if the proposed standard is the most appropriate way to reduce the risk of contaminating drinking-water sources. Read more -
August 2006This report provides a review of regional council and unitary authorities freshwater management planning and practices. It focuses on water availability, water allocation, water quality management, and monitoring and management. Read more -
July 2006This report investigates approaches for the allocation and subsequent reallocation of water in New Zealand, including situations of over-allocation. Read more -
April 2006The Cultural Health Index is a tool that Māori can use to assess and manage waterways in their area. This technical report describes how the Cultural Health Index works scientifically and how it has been developed through testing on different river types and with different iwi. Read more -
April 2006This paper outlines a proposed package of actions under the Sustainable Water Programme of Action. The Sustainable Water Programme of Action was established in 2003 and ran until the end of 2008. Read more -
September 2005This report summarises the evaluation of the provisions of the Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Regional Plan undertaken by the Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Board. All the objectives, policies and rules of the Plan have been examined. Read more -
August 2005This report summarises the views of the Stakeholder Reference Group on water allocation and use in New Zealand, and the potential approaches for improving our current allocation system. Read more -
July 2005This report summarises the feedback received during consultation in February and March 2005 on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action discussion document Freshwater for a sustainable future: issues and options. Read more -
July 2005This report summarises the feedback received at 17 hui with Māori held in February and March 2005, on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action discussion document Freshwater for a sustainable future: issues and options. Read more -
July 2005This report summarises the feedback received at 14 meetings held with local government in February 2005, on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action discussion document Freshwater for a sustainable future: issues and options. Read more -
July 2005This report summarises the feedback received at 19 public meetings held in February 2005 on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action discussion document Freshwater for a sustainable future: issues and options. Read more -
July 2005This report summarises the written submissions to central government on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action discussion document Freshwater for a sustainable future: issues and options. Read more -
February 2005A collation of hydrological information for the Waitaki Catchment that uses existing hydrological information to illustrate the magnitude and variability of flows within the catchment, including the influence of existing infrastructure on natural flows. Read more -
February 2005This report assesses the environmental, economic and social impacts of allocating irrigation in the McKenzie Basin and amount of water that matches the provisions in the now defunct 1969 Order in Council. Read more -
February 2005This report contains the results of a survey of people travelling through, and people staying in, the lower Waitaki Valley to establish patterns of behaviour and perceptions of the environment. Read more -
January 2005This report examines two economic concepts - option and existence values - which can be used to value natural resources. It discusses how these could apply in the Waitaki catchment. Read more -
January 2005This report examines the potential demand for water from the Waitak catchment to meet community, urban and town supplies; industrial and commerical uses; and use by recreation and tourism facilities. It includes demands both within and outside the catchment. Read more -
December 2004This report was published as part of the Water Programme of ActionFreshwater for a Sustainable Future consultation. Read more -
December 2004This discussion document outlines the different ways in which New Zealanders value and use freshwater. It also looks at how New Zealand’s water is managed and the pressures and challenges facing our water management system. Read more -
December 2004This report provides information about the types and location of recreation and tourism activity that is supported by or associated with water bodies within the Waitaki Catchment. Read more -
December 2004This report provides an overview of the groundwater resources of the Waitaki catchment. It outlines groundwater flow directions and depths, interactions with surface water, and provides a preliminary assessment of aquifer properties. Read more -
December 2004This GIS report provides information about the types and location of recreation and tourism activity that is supported by or associated with water bodies within the Waitaki Catchment. Read more -
November 2004This report provides a regional perspective on the costs and benefits of various allocation scenarios for use of water from the Waitaki Catchment. Read more -
November 2004This report provides an overview of the freshwater ecological values in the Waitaki Catchment based on information collated as geographical information system (GIS) layers. It describes the sources of the GIS data and lists the layers that have been prepared. Read more -
July 2004There is legitimate competition for the use and protection of fresh water. The Sustainable Development Water Programme of Action included studies and reports which identify water bodies that are most important for various values. Read more -
July 2004This paper was published as part of the Water Programme of Action Freshwater for a Sustainable Future consultation. Read more -
June 2004The Water Allocation and Use paper identifies problems in our systems of water allocation and use. Read more