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December 2020This report surveyed international frameworks, identified important lessons for outcome-based environmental management, and helps clarify what setting environmental limits and targets will require. Read more -
December 2020This report translates the planetary boundaries framework to show New Zealand’s global environmental connections and quantifies where our country sits in terms of operating within environmentally safe boundaries. Read more -
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 -
September 2019This report prepared by MRCagney informs work on understanding and measuring the wider costs and benefits of urban development under the Urban Growth Agenda. Read more -
August 2019This Beca report presents a review and analysis of the main urban zoning provisions within district plans for selected ‘high-growth’ councils. Read more -
April 2019This report provides a national inventory of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran emissions to air, land and water from known sources for 2016. Read more -
November 2018This report provides a national inventory of olychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran emissions to air, land and water from known sources for 2012, together with estimates of the amount of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran present within reservoir sources. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran 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 -
December 2017This research identifies international and domestic trends and best practice for urban growth management strategies and recommends what guidance could be developed for councils to assist them to meet policies PC12, PC13 and PC14 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity. Read more -
October 2016A comprehensive draft version of this report informed evidence and monitoring policies in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016 (NPS-UDC) and the implementation programme. It has assisted in determining which indicators would best provide useful information, and what monitoring would be practical in terms of data availability, frequency, capabilities and costs. Read more -
August 2016This report presents the findings of research into the potential adoption of a bioavailability assessment methodology for soil contaminants in New Zealand. Read more -
August 2016This report presents the findings of a review into the use of site management for residential land to manage potential health risks from low-level diffuse contamination in soil. Read more -
June 2016This paper looks at planning practices for providing development capacity for housing and business needs in the United Kingdom (UK) and two Australian states, Victoria and New South Wales. Read more -
April 2016This business case provides analysis of the regulatory regime for 1080 operational use. 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 -
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 -
October 2013The Ministry for the Environment commissioned ENVIRON Australia Pty Ltd, to investigate the practicalities of identifying, sorting and segregating plastics in the e-waste recycling industry, according to those components that contain banned brominated flame retardant (BFR) chemicals. Read more -
October 2013The Ministry for the Environment commissioned ACIL Allen Consulting to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of sorting options for e-waste plastics being recycled in New Zealand that potentially contain brominated flame retardants. Read more -
December 2012The Ministry commissioned this pilot study to identify if plastics in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE, or e-waste) contained brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Read more -
December 2012This research looked at 23 case studies of collective action groups to examine their likelihood of emerging and enduring in the long-term. Read more -
December 2012This report explores the international literature on collaborative governance to identify factors that are important for people to contribute meaningfully to a successful collaborative governance process. 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 2012This report examines whether the scale of compliance costs arising from New Zealand’s hazardous substances regime was comparable with compliance costs imposed on users of chemicals in overseas jurisdictions. Read more -
June 2012This report identifies the key factors that influence businesses' decisions to innovate using new organisms in New Zealand. The aim of the project was to determine whether regulation for managing risks is an important determinant in such decisions. 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 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 -
February 2012This independent report surveys literature on the regulation of chemical and biological risks in Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Read more -
January 2012Assessment methodology developed to provide a robust urban design rating system for medium-density housing developments that can be used for different building typologies. 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 -
October 2011A history of the Fruitgrowers’ Chemical Company (FCC) at Mapua and the clean up of the site. Read more -
June 2011This technical report outlines a risk-based methodology for deriving soil contaminant concentrations protective of human health. Read more -
June 2011This document presents recommendations for toxicological intake values for 12 priority contaminants in soil. 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 -
February 2011This report provides a national inventory of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans emission to air, land and water from known sources for 2008. 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 study reports on the use, recycling and disposal to landfill in New Zealand of articles containing brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) flame retardants. 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 -
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 -
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 -
July 2009This report is the first time a national picture of water quality in dairying catchments has been published for New Zealand. The report draws together water quality and land-use information from 14 river catchments. Read more -
June 2009This report presents the results of an audit of the remediation of the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site at Mapua. 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 -
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 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 -
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