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April 2020This report highlights patterns and trends in implementation of the Resource Management Act by local authorities from 2014/15 to 2018/19, as recorded by the National Monitoring System. The purpose of the report is to identify areas for improvement in policy or practice. 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 -
March 2019This updated National Implementation Plan outlines measures to implement our obligations relating to new persistent organic pollutants added to the Stockholm Convention in 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2017. It also reports on New Zealand’s achievements in phasing out the 12 initial POPs. Read more -
June 2018The Ministry for the Environment commissioned Castalia to conduct an economic evaluation of the costs and benefits associated with the introduction of the first set of draft national planning standards. 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 -
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 -
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 -
July 2015A summary of submissions from consultation in which the Government sought the view of the public on the direction of the review of ECan, the proposed mixed-model governance structure and other alternatives. Read more -
July 2015This report contains the detailed policy settings for how the mixed-model is intended to be set up and operate. Some of the details in this report may be subject to change to best give effect to the overall policy intent. 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 -
November 2013This report summarises the work of the freshwater National Objectives Framework Reference Group, including identifying some potential bottom lines, and recommendations for further work. The group included representatives from iwi, regional councils and key stakeholder groups. 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 -
December 2012The latest indicator update providing information on the area of New Zealand’s marine areas with legal protection. Read more -
July 2012This is an independent review of sections 6 and 7 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and other sections related to natural hazards. Read more -
June 2012The Gap Analysis was one of four studies undertaken as part of the RMA Monitoring and Review Project. The gap analysis distilled key points from the three scoping studies to identify gaps and opportunities for designing and developing an integrated monitoring framework for the RMA. 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 -
May 2012The Stocktake of RMA Monitoring was one of four studies undertaken as part of the RMA Monitoring and Review Project. The Stocktake provided a better understanding of the processes and systems used by local and central government to monitor the RMA. Read more -
December 2011The Needs Analysis was one of four studies undertaken as part of the RMA Monitoring and Review Project. The study identified and helped us better understand what needs to be monitored under the RMA. Read more -
September 2011In August 2008, Mighty River Power Ltd lodged resource consent applications to construct, maintain and operate a wind farm in the Turitea Reserve and adjoining farmland near Palmerston North. This is the Board's final report and decision on the proposal. Read more -
May 2011This report provides a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health. 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 -
November 2010This environmental report card is one of a series that provides information on New Zealand’s fishing activity from an environmental perspective. Total commercial catch and stock status are used to report on fish stocks under the quota management system (QMS). Read more -
August 2010The outcome of a series of investigations over six months around major infrastructure consenting issues under the Resource Management Act and Public Works Act. Read more -
July 2010Report of the Minister for the Environment's Urban Technical Advisory Group. Read more -
June 2010 -
June 2010This report applies a cost-benefit analysis framework to the proposed National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry to evaluate its potential net impact. 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 -
March 2010This snapshot report is one of a series that provides information on New Zealand’s fishing activity from an environmental perspective. To report on seabed trawling, the area trawled by commercial trawlers and the types of fish found in different trawled areas are estimated. 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 -
February 2009This report, produced by the Minister for the Environment’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG), provides independent perspectives and analysis on introducing a Bill to streamline and simplify the Resource Management Act. Read more -
December 2008This report, prepared by Brown and Pemberton Planning Group Limited, updates previous research on the timeframes for developing policy statements and plans under the Resource Management Act (RMA). Read more -
December 2008The 2008 environmental report card providing information on the area of New Zealand’s marine areas with legal protection. This report card has been superseded by the Marine Protected Areas indicator update published in 2012. Read more -
July 2008This report was commissioned by the Board of Inquiry Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station Proposal, under section 42A. It includes a review of plans and other statutory information about the application, a review of the application and submissions, and identification of any issues. Read more -
May 2008This report sets out a number of costs and benefits from having a National Environmental Standard on Water Measuring Devices. Read more -
March 2008This document lists the submissions received by the Minister on Transpower’s Upper North Island Grid Upgrade proposal. Read more -
January 2008This report, commissioned by the Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal Board of Inquiry includes key issues of the proposal, an overview of the notices of requirement and resource consent applications lodged, and an analysis of information provided by Transpower. 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 -
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 -
July 2006This report examines options for using market-based instruments to maximise the value and sustainability of New Zealand’s marine resource. Read more -
May 2006This report, commissioned in 2006, examines possible government actions and their ability to contribute to the sustainable development of marine resources. 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 -
June 2005This 2005 report looked at the information and tools needed to make smart decisions about the best future uses of our ocean. It assessed the range of information and decision-making tools available in 2005 and identified opportunities to improve requirements. Read more