Publication Search
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October 2020This report assesses the suitability of using New Zealand Rural Fire Authority’s Fire Danger Rating System as an indicator on wildfire risk for the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ’s environmental reporting. Read more -
October 2020This report describes the climate datasets that were supplied by NIWA for use in Our atmosphere and climate 2020, and outlines the methodologies used to generate them. Read more -
August 2020This report by Energy Link considers 11 methodologies for modelling the electricity allocation factor. Read more -
May 2020This report scopes the potential development of a land-use intensity indicator for environmental reporting. 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 -
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 2017This report describes the rainfall indices and datasets used in the measure of rainfall intensity in the Environmental indicators Te taiao Aotearoa series. Read more -
October 2017This report describes the methodology used to calculate wind gust indices used in the measure of Extreme wind in the Environmental indicators Te taiao Aotearoa series. Read more -
October 2017This report describes and outlines the methodologies used to generate, the updated datasets acquired from NIWA for Our atmosphere and climate 2017. Read more -
October 2017This report details the methodologies underlying updated estimates of glacier ice volume change in New Zealand. The estimates were used in the measure of Annual glacier ice volumes in the Environmental indicators Te taiao Aotearoa series. 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 -
September 2016As part of the initial scoping for a NPS on natural hazards, Tonkin and Taylor carried out some research on using a risk based approach to natural hazard management under the RMA, and made some recommendations for what could be included in a NPS. This is their final report. 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 -
July 2016This report provides information about the way nine ‘high growth’ councils in New Zealand estimate demand for housing and business land, and how they measure the development capacity available to meet that demand. Read more -
June 2016This report presents the findings of research into the sufficient supply of business land in urban areas experiencing the highest population growth in New Zealand. Where issues where identified the research looked at whether the proposed National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity would address those issues. 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 -
March 2016This report priorities suggested improvements to enhance and expand air domain reporting. 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 -
October 2014This report provides recommendations for new sites to improve representativeness in the New Zealand river environmental monitoring network. Read more -
May 2014The technical report commissioned to provide us with some of the data used in the 2014 Air domain report. Read more -
December 2013An investigation into the feasibility of using freshwater fish predictive models in national state of the environment indicators. Read more -
December 2013An assessment of the representativeness and statistical power of state of environment river monitoring sites across New Zealand. Read more -
December 2013The aim of a Composite River Condition Index for New Zealand is to combine a number of sub-indices to communicate a representative holistic picture of river condition. This report investigates three indices and discusses limitations and areas for improvement. Read more -
November 2013This scientific study aggregates the estimated farm level and point source nutrient discharges to downstream water quality concentrations of nitrate (N), phosphorus (P) and E. coli for 73 monitored sites in the Southland region. Read more -
July 2013A comparison study of different predictive macroinvertebrate models. An approach is recommended and this is used to predict macroinvertebrate community condition in unmonitored reaches. Read more -
July 2013This report details the approach used to compile regional council and NIWA water quality data sets, calculate state and trends, and develop predictive models of water quality parameters. The modelling is used to predict water quality in unmonitored reaches. 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 -
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 -
November 2010This report provides a national picture of current status (2005–2009) and trends in water quality of New Zealand lakes. It updates the 2006 report ‘A snapshot of lake water quality in New Zealand’. Read more -
August 2010This report contains the findings of a survey of local authority urban design panels. The Ministry undertook the survey to gain a nationwide picture of these panels including how many panels there are and the processes they use, and to canvass views on their effectiveness. Read more -
July 2010Report of the Minister for the Environment's Urban Technical Advisory Group. Read more -
March 2010This report provides a stock take of the Urban Design Protocol and is part of a wider evaluation of the Protocol and its signatory action plans. It will help the Ministry evaluate and determine the future direction of the programme. Read more -
March 2010This report provides an outline of the methodology and analysis used for the stock take of the Urban Design Protocol and action plan monitoring. It accompanies the main report (Taking Stock of the Urban Design Protocol and Action Plan monitoring). Read more -
November 2009In 2008, the Ministry engaged MWH New Zealand Ltd to investigate the nature and extent of urban design related provisions in local authority plans and policy statements prepared under the Resource Management Act. This report presents the detailed findings of that research. Read more -
November 2009In 2008, the Ministry engaged MWH New Zealand Ltd to investigate the nature and extent of urban design related provisions in local authority plans and policy statements prepared under the Resource Management Act. This report presents a summary of that research. Read more -
September 2009This report provides an update of results for indicators of groundwater quality in New Zealand. It summarises average water quality at almost 1000 monitoring sites over the period 1995-2008, as well as trends at the same sites within that period of time. Read more -
March 2009This report summarises changes in fish communities in New Zealand rivers, including changes in relation to different land uses. Read more -
July 2008The Ministry commissioned an independent review to obtain stakeholder feedback on the readability, content and overall usefulness of the Environment New Zealand 2007 report. Read more -
March 2008This technical 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 -
June 2007This report presents the results of the real-life emissions testing carried out in conjunction with the Tokoroa Warm Homes trial. This report should be read with the 'Real-life Emissions Testing of Pellet Burners in Tokoroa' report. Read more -
June 2007This report presents the results of the real-life emissions testing carried out in conjunction with the Tokoroa Warm Homes trial. This report should be read with the 'Real-life emissions testing of wood burners in Tokoroa' report. Read more -
May 2007This report presents the results of the first round of monitoring of Urban Design Protocol signatories' action plans. The results indicated healthy progress was being made towards giving effect to the Protocol. Read more -
September 2006This independent research report prepared for the Ministry by Research New Zealand details the results of the Local Government Urban Design Skills Survey undertaken during May and June 2006. Read more -
March 2006The Action Plan Review is a short summary of all the Urban Design Protocol action plans the Ministry for the Environment received before December 2005. The review highlights the actions proposed by the signatories and the general direction their actions are taking. Read more -
February 2006This report investigates the role of urban design in building competitive cities and prosperous economies. Read more -
December 2005This report investigates the social drivers behind householders' decisions on home heating, insulation and appliance choice. It should be read with the Phase 1 report which outlines the policy context of the project. Read more -
November 2005This report provides information on different home heating options and their costs and benefits. Read more -
November 2005This report provides information on different home heating options and their costs and benefits from the Warm Homes study. This report presents the process and results of the second phase of the study. Read more -
November 2005This report presents the results of a survey of domestic heating methods and fuels carried out in 29 urban areas of New Zealand. The survey collected information to be used in assessing measures to reduce PM10 emissions from domestic home heating in these areas. Read more