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April 2017This report presents the methods and statistical results of the He Pātaka Wai Ora Project. Read more -
April 2017This report outlines the development of a pressure-state-impact model to predict the effect of water abstractions on river flows, using Canterbury as a case study. Read more -
April 2017This report presents information on potential environmental indicators of water allocation: rates of flow take and volumes of flow take; and their cumulative impacts on river flows. Read more -
April 2017This report aimed to develop national level statistics on water allocation to quantify the pressures on river flows, and in turn freshwater ecosystems. Read more -
April 2017This report presents trends in the abundance of freshwater species between 1977 and 2015 based on standardised data from the New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database. Read more -
April 2017This report looks at the state and trends of water quality in urban streams, with a focus on Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Read more -
April 2017This report models the state of water quality along New Zealand’s national river network, using data measured at freshwater monitoring sites between 2009 and 2013. Read more -
April 2017This report outlines the development of a database to house scientific and cultural information on the health of Te Arawa lakes (Bay of Plenty). Read more -
April 2017Note: Information in these factsheets may be out of date as a result of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020 Read more -
February 2017This document sets out the Government's further work in the ongoing programme of water reform. Read more -
February 2017This report provides an evaluation under section 32 of the Resource Management Act 1991 of the proposed amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014. Read more -
February 2017This report has been produced to test potential consequences of setting freshwater objectives for hydro scheme operations. Modelling was undertaken of a selection of various scenarios involving an increase in minimum flows in selected rivers to assess the impact of draft proposals to amend the NPS Freshwater Management on the New Zealand electricity system. Read more -
February 2017This report addresses the question, “By how much would mitigation measures decrease the proportion of time that river reaches exceed the primary contact (swimming) minimum acceptable state E. coli concentration of 540 per 100 ml?” Read more -
February 2017This report provides advice on statistical issues relevant to the 2014 National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, having particular regard to its National Objectives Framework (NOF). Read more -
February 2017Sediment is an important contaminant in New Zealand freshwaters. This report presents the development of an analytical framework to empirically relate various key instream measures of sediment to catchment sediment loads. Read more -
February 2017This report is a strategic assessment of New Zealand’s freshwaters for recreational use from a human health perspective. It outlines the methods used to produce spatial predictions of E. coli and cynobacterial biovolume at unmonitored locations. Read more -
February 2017This report reviews the original report, 'Strategic assessment of New Zealand’s freshwaters for recreational use: a human health perspective'. Read more -
December 2016This report provides the results of an evaluation of the effectiveness of the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation (NPS-REG). Read more -
December 2016This information sheet is for network utility operators or those responsible for public works in areas damaged by the Hurunui/Kaikoura earthquake. It explains how the Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquakes Emergency Relief Act 2016 has temporary altered your obligations under the Resource Management Act. Read more -
December 2016This information sheet explains the modified consent process for restoring the Kaikōura harbours specified in the Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquakes Emergency Relief Act 2016. Read more -
December 2016This information sheet is for rural land owners and occupiers who need to undertake emergency repair works following the Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquake. It explains what you are now permitted to do under the Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquakes Emergency Relief Act 2016. Read more -
November 2016This report has been produced by the Ministry for the Environment based on recently held conversations with representatives from councils and stakeholders on their processes and data collected as part of the National Monitoring System and the RMA Survey of Local Authorities. Read more -
November 2016This document presents the findings of the evaluation of the efficiency, effectiveness and risks associated with the proposed National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities regulations. Read more -
October 2016'Our marine environment 2016' provides an overview of the pressures New Zealand's marine environment faces, how it is changing, and the impacts on our biodiversity, economy, and way of life. 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 -
September 2016'A way forward for national direction - 2016' is an updated list of topics that Government intends to address nationally using one of the RMA legislative tools. Read more -
August 2016This guidance is to help local authorities submit the National Monitoring System information requirements for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 (due by Friday 28 July 2017). Read more -
June 2016This report provides advice on possible attributes and thresholds relevant to the ecosystem health of intermittently closed and open lakes and lagoons and brackish lakes, and their potential for consideration as part of the National Objectives Framework in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. Read more -
June 2016This report presents the findings of a review of national and international literature on benthic cyanobacteria and their associated toxins. Read more -
June 2016This report presents findings of a literature review of the effects of fine sediment on ecosystem health and numerical thresholds for (sediment-related) environmental state variables. Read more -
June 2016This report presents the findings of a review of continuous dissolved oxygen data in New Zealand including an assessment of observed dissolved oxygen concentrations in relation to the National Objectives Framework (point source) band thresholds. Read more -
June 2016This document provides guidance to council staff on identifying freshwater management units as required under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. Read more -
June 2016This document lists the topics to be reported on in environmental reports and provides a description of each. Read more -
June 2016This document provides a summary of submissions received during the consultation on the Government’s Next Steps for Fresh Water discussion document. Read more -
March 2016This report priorities suggested improvements to enhance and expand air domain reporting. Read more -
February 2016This consultation document sets out the Government’s proposals to improve the management of fresh water in New Zealand. Read more -
December 2015Report produced by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research which introduces Bayesian Networks as a decision-support tool for councils and their communities to use when developing freshwater management options. 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 -
November 2015This guide outlines the obligations of territorial authorities under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 and describes some impacts the NPS-FM may have on councils. Read more -
November 2015This booklet explains the second phase of the Government's Resource Management Act reforms. Read more -
November 2015This fact sheet provides key messages about regional councils’ responsibilities under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 and the Resource Management Act 1991 for managing discharges. Read more -
October 2015This infographic provides a snapshot of New Zealand’s environment. It presents key findings from ‘Environment Aotearoa 2015’ in a graphic for use online or as a printed poster. Read more -
October 2015Environment Aotearoa 2015 provides an overall picture of our environment across the air, atmosphere and climate, fresh water, land and marine domains and shows interactions between each domain. Read more -
September 2015This case study describes the collaborative processes used as part of the Healthy Rivers Wai Ora project in the Waikato catchment. Read more -
September 2015This guidance, collaboratively written by regional council and Ministry for the Environment staff, steps the reader through the establishment, running and winding up of an effective collaboration group. 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 -
September 2015This guide will help regional and unitary councils implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management requirement to establish freshwater accounting systems for water quantity and quality. Read more -
September 2015This report presents an assessment of the costs and benefits of the cultural effects that are anticipated as a result of the proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities 2008. Read more -
September 2015This report presents the recommendations on the proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities 2008. Read more -
September 2015This document is the summary of submissions received on the proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities 2008. Read more