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December 2020This guide provides information on how to submit expressions of interest to the Freshwater Improvement Fund. Read more -
October 2020Read the summary of recommendations and the Minister for the Environment’s decisions on amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 report here. Read more -
September 2020This document provides detailed technical guidance about the new freshwater planning process (FPP) introduced by the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020. Read more -
August 2020The Wetland Delineation Protocols give a robust method for delineating wetlands based on the United States delineation system. Read more -
August 2020The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 requires councils to manage periphyton in rivers as a compulsory attribute to achieve the value ecosystem health. Read more -
August 2020This factsheet provides information on the consenting-related changes made through the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020. Read more -
August 2020The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 sets out the objectives and policies for freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991. Read more -
June 2020This document provides guidance on apply to the Environmental Legal Assistance (ELA) Fund. Read more -
December 2019This guide provides information for people who import, manufacture, or sell products covered by New Zealand’s Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS). Read more -
September 2019This is the draft of the proposed new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM). It sets out the objectives and policies for freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991. Read more -
September 2019This is the proposed National Environmental Standards for Freshwater. It sets out potential regulations that are part of a package of proposed freshwater regulations set out in Action for healthy waterways: a discussion document on national direction for our essential freshwater. Read more -
September 2019This document sets out proposals for regulations for excluding stock from lakes, rivers and wetlands. Read more -
December 2018This guide provides practical considerations, principles and methods to help regional council staff identify, assess, communicate and manage uncertainty in freshwater management. It may also be useful for iwi and hapū or community participants in regional freshwater planning processes to better understand these issues. Read more -
October 2018This document captures areas of shared interest in water quality and ecosystem health improvements and defines how the Crown and Māori will work together to make improvements to New Zealand’s freshwater. Read more -
October 2018View the high-level detail on each of the work streams in the Essential Freshwater work programme and the indicative timeframes. Read more -
October 2018This document describes a framework for assessing the biophysical ecosystem health of fresh water in Aotearoa New Zealand. Read more -
October 2018This document sets out the Government’s plan to restore and protect freshwater in New Zealand. Read more -
August 2018These guidelines provide water managers with tools and guidance to assess, manage and monitor the water quality. They complement the existing National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (Freshwater NPS) which is the main direction to local government about how to manage fresh water in New Zealand. Read more -
August 2018This technical guidance will help councils with the process set out in the Periphyton Attribute Note in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (as amended 2017). Read more -
March 2018This guide provides information about the attributes in Appendix 2 of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (as amended 2017). Read more -
March 2018This guide provides information about the Waste Minimisation Fund (WMF) and guidance for completing an application for funding for a waste minimisation project. Read more -
March 2018This guide provides information about setting limits under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (as amended 2017). Read more -
December 2017This guide provides information about the policy intent and requirements of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014. Read more -
December 2017This guide provides information about the monitoring requirements in Part CB of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (as amended 2017). Read more -
December 2017This guide explains how the national swimming targets will be achieved, what contribution regional targets will make, and the monitoring requirements for E. coli. Read more -
August 2017The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (Freshwater NPS) sets out the objectives and policies for freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991. It came into effect on 1 August 2014 and amendments made in August 2017 took effect on 7 September 2017. Read more -
July 2017This document provides an overview of the full funding process, and guidance to help you complete your application to the Community Environment Fund. Read more -
February 2017This guide provides information on how to apply to the Freshwater Improvement Fund. 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 -
February 2016This document provides information about the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund (CSRF) and guidance for completing an application for funding for a contaminated site investigation and/or remediation project. 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 -
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 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 -
January 2015This report describes tools that may be useful for regional councils and communities to identify and compare values as they go through planning processes and implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. Read more -
July 2014The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 sets out the objectives and policies for freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991. The Freshwater NPS was amended in August 2017. Read more -
July 2014This report presents the findings of a further evaluation (under section 32AA of the Resource Management Act) of the proposed amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011. Read more -
November 2013This 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 2011. Read more -
November 2013This document presents Government proposals to amend the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. Read more -
June 2013Recreational water quality assessment software user’s guide. Read more -
August 2012This report identifies and recommends national freshwater monitoring protocols for core river water quality, river bio-monitoring and lake monitoring variables. Regional council protocols and quality assurance methods are described. Read more -
May 2011The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011 sets out the objectives and policies for freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991. The NES came into effect on 1 July 2011. Read more -
May 2011An evaluation of alternatives, benefits and costs under section 32 of the Resource Management Act 1991 was carried out before the introduction of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011. The NES came into effect on 1 July 2011. Read more -
May 2011This summary outlines the differences between the Board of Inquiry on the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011 recommendations and the Minister’s final decision and the reasons for the changes that were made. Read more -
October 2010Information on the Resource Management (Measurement and Reporting of Water Takes) Regulations 2010 including information on the benefits of measuring your water take, who the regulations apply to, measuring and reporting requirements, and how the regulations work. 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 -
December 2009These guidelines provide advice on how public health risk associated with cyanobacteria in recreational waters can be managed. Read more -
December 2009The Water Research Strategy sets out the issues for water management and guides investment in water research. It is intended to guide the science sector to deliver the information and tools required to enable world class management of water resources in New Zealand. 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 -
July 2008This proposed National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management sets out the objective and policies for managing New Zealand's freshwater resources under the Resource Management Act 1991. The NPS came into effect on 1 July 2011. Read more -
July 2008This document contains the evaluation for the Minister for the Environment required under section 32 of the Resource Management Act 1991 of the proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. The NES came into effect on 1 July 2011. Read more