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August 2018Trend analyses performed on many sites are regularly aggregated by water quality variable and summarised in tabular, graphical or map format as part of environmental reporting. Read more -
July 2018This report evaluates the Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessments (HBAs) from the high-growth urban areas, and suggests how future HBAs can be improved. It aims to help those who are also producing a HBA, such as the medium-growth councils, as well as indicates to the high-growth councils where improvements can be made in future HBAs. Read more -
July 2018These guidelines will help councils with their compliance, monitoring and enforcement responsibilities under the Resource Management Act. 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 -
June 2018Part 1 provides an overarching introduction to the purpose of a section 32 evaluation report and discusses the legislative requirements that underpin it. Read more -
June 2018Part 2A of the National Planning Standards Section 32 evaluation report provides a detailed evaluation of the plan and policy statement structure and format standards. Read more -
June 2018Part 2B of the National Planning Standards Section 32 evaluation report provides a detailed evaluation of the spatial planning tools and zone framework standards. Read more -
June 2018Part 2C of the National Planning Standards Section 32 evaluation report provides a detailed evaluation of the definitions standard. Read more -
June 2018Part 2D of the National Planning Standards Section 32 evaluation report provides a detailed evaluation of the noise and vibrations metrics standard. Read more -
June 2018Part 2E of the National Planning Standards Section 32 evaluation report provides a detailed evaluation of the electronic functionality and accessibility and mapping standards. Read more -
June 2018Part 2F of the National Planning Standards Section 32 evaluation report provides a detailed evaluation of the Tangata whenua provisions standard. Read more -
June 2018Part 3 of this report discusses the proposed implementation approach of the first set of National Planning Standards. Read more -
June 2018The consultation document gives an overview of the draft first set of National Planning Standards (planning standards), what they aim to achieve, and implementation considerations. This consultation document is a companion to the draft first set of planning standards. Read more -
June 2018The draft planning standards provide national consistency for the structure, form, definitions and electronic accessibility of Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) plans and policy statements to make them more efficient and easier to prepare and use. Read more -
May 2018This report outlines the establishment of reference conditions and trigger values. Reference conditions are defined as the chemical, physical or biological conditions that can be expected in streams and rivers with minimal or no anthropogenic influence. Read more -
May 2018This guidance is to help local authorities submit the National Monitoring System information that is required for the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. The information is due by 31 July 2019. Read more -
May 2018Phormidium is a potentially toxic, mat-forming benthic cyanobacterium found in an increasing number of New Zealand rivers. This report outlines a study which assessed Phormidium toxin levels in the Cardrona (Otago), Mataura (Southland) and Hutt (Wellington) Rivers in 2017. Read more -
May 2018The Managing Upstream project aims to help inform management decisions when establishing freshwater objectives under the Freshwater NPS and increase knowledge on the state of different estuary types in New Zealand. Read more -
May 2018The Managing Upstream project aims to help inform management decisions when establishing freshwater objectives under the Freshwater NPS and increase knowledge on the state of different estuary types in New Zealand. Read more -
May 2018Phormidium is a potentially toxic, mat-forming benthic cyanobacterium found in an increasing number of New Zealand rivers. This report outlines a study which investigated drivers of Phormidium blooms in New Zealand rivers to predict risk of blooms. Read more -
May 2018This report provides an environmental classification system for a potential deposited sediment indicator in the National Objectives Framework. The system classifies streams according to their modelled reference state. This report is an interim deliverable for an ongoing research programme that builds on and refines its findings and will conclude in June 2018. Read more -
May 2018This research assesses the applicability of environmental classification systems for a potential suspended sediment indicator in the National Objectives Framework. It evaluated the relationship between modelled suspended sediment indicator values and observed values, land cover, and River Environment Classification typologies. This report is an interim deliverable for an ongoing research programme that builds on and refines its findings and will conclude in June 2018. Read more -
May 2018This report proposes updated guideline values for copper and zinc in marine and freshwaters. Read more -
April 2018Mana Whakahono ā Rohe is a new tool designed to assist tangata whenua and local authorities discuss, agree and record how they will work together under the Resource Management Act. This guidance explains how the legislation can be implemented and provides ideas about what could be included in a Mana Whakahono ā Rohe arrangement. Read more -
April 2018This report provides an analysis of New Zealand’s wetland loss for the period summer 2001/2 through to summer 2015/2016. Read more -
April 2018The Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation, and the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge co-funded research to look at contemporary losses of wetland extent in New Zealand. This report provides recommendations and a suggested path forward to improve our ability to monitor and report on national wetland extent. 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 non-statutory application form is to help councils that wish to request a streamlined planning process under section 80C of the RMA. It includes the information requirements that are set out in clause 74 of Schedule 1. Read more -
March 2018This guide provides information about setting limits under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (as amended 2017). Read more -
March 2018This guide helps councils to make a request to the Minister for a streamlined planning process. It explains the streamlined planning process, including altered decision and appeal processes. Read more -
March 2018This working paper produced by NIWA for the Ministry for the Environment in 2016 proposes a methodology for calculating over-allocation of fresh water. Read more -
March 2018A new streamlined planning process (SPP) was introduced by Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017, which took effect on 19 April 2017. This flow chart shows the steps involved in the Streamlined Planning Process. It should be read in conjunction with the SPP technical guidance. Read more -
March 2018This report sets out our research on tangata whenua provisions in district and regional planning documents and discusses their variation. Read more -
March 2018This report has regional summaries of the work planned or underway to improve water quality in rivers and lakes in terms of human health. Read more -
February 2018An independent report has shown that water quality for sediment and E. coli have improved over the past 7-10 years in the Horizons Region. There are encouraging signs that local scale interventions are collectively contributing to regional scale water quality improvements. The case study, conducted by Land Water People Ltd and reviewed by NIWA and StatsNZ, was commissioned jointly by the Ministry for the Environment and Horizons Regional Council as a way to understand improving water quality trends in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region. Read more -
February 2018The report provides an inventory of the annual distribution of mercury and mercury-containing goods and materials in New Zealand from anthropogenic (man-made) sources, for a base year of 2016. It builds on the information in the previous 2012 and 2008 mercury inventories. 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 relates to the requirements in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity for local authorities to set targets in their regional policy statements and district plans (policies PC5 – PC 11). Read more -
December 2017This guide provides recommendations on how to give effect to the requirements of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity to produce the future development strategy (policies PC12 - PC14). Read more -
December 2017This report analyses the state of freshwater quality for the past 25 years based on a national scale model. Read more -
December 2017This report summarises the state and trends of groundwater quality between 2005 and 2014 Read more -
December 2017This report estimates the net amount of surface water available in New Zealand and in each region between 1995 and 2014. Read more -
December 2017This report discusses a suite of indices that can be used to measure and report on river flow across New Zealand. This information can help indicate the effect river flows have on river processes and water availability among other freshwater values. 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 -
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 -
November 2017This material is incorporated by reference in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020. Read more -
October 2017This report compares nutrient measurements in Wellington rivers by national recommended protocols versus Greater Wellington Regional Council’s historical protocols. Read more -
September 2017This document provides a two-page summary of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity. Read more -
September 2017The Clean Water discussion document proposed changes to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. Following the consultation recommendations on amending the Freshwater NPS were made to the Minister for the Environment. This report provides a summary of decisions the Minister made based on those recommendations. Read more