Publication Search
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December 2014The Ministry for the Environment commissioned Graham Environmental Consulting Limited to investigate New Zealand imports and exports of asbestos-containing products, and how important these products are to New Zealand businesses. This report presents the findings of that investigation. Read more -
July 2020New Directions for Resource Management in New Zealand is a comprehensive review of our resource management system. The review process was an opportunity to design a new system for resource management that delivers better outcomes for our environment, society, economy, and culture. Read more -
October 2003This pamphlet outlines New Zealand's approach to genetic modification. Read more -
June 2004This booklet answers some of the basic questions you might have about what genetic modification is, how applications to use it can be made, and how they are controlled and managed in New Zealand. It will also point you to sources of further information. Read more -
August 2020This factsheet gives an overview of the different types of waste to energy (WtE) technologies and aspects of the New Zealand context that may be relevant when considering WtE proposals. Read more -
October 2014This report examines the economic factors that influence waste disposal and waste minimisation. Read more -
March 2004This guide will help decision-makers implement a consistent full cost accounting approach to landfills, incorporating landfill planning, development, operation, closure and aftercare. Read more -
February 2004The New Zealand Waste Strategy was first published in March 2002 as a long-term strategy to help reduce and better manage waste in New Zealand. The Review of Targets in the New Zealand Waste Strategy provides a stocktake on progress towards implementing targets in the strategy. Read more -
July 2008This leaflet provides an overview of the proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. The NES came into effect on 1 July 2011. Read more -
March 2007This report reported on progress against the 2002 New Zealand Waste Strategy’s 30 targets. The 2002 strategy has been replaced by the 2010 New Zealand Waste Strategy. Read more -
August 1997The Users’ Guide includes information on assessment, acceptance criteria and site management. It is supported by modules of technical information. Read more -
May 2010Preparing for Future Flooding is a summary of the Ministry’s technical report 'Tools for estimating the effects of climate change on flood flow'. It provides good practice information and guidance to help local authorities incorporate climate change impacts into flood risk management. Read more -
October 2001This information sheet, published in 2001, provides information on controls in New Zealand for genetic modification and looks at recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. Read more -
May 2001This guide aims to increase awareness of the risks associated with closed landfills and to outline the best practical methods to manage closed landfill sites effectively, so that adverse environmental effects are minimised. Read more -
December 1998Guidance for the owners and managers of petroleum industry sites on how to ensure water discharges will not cause significant adverse effects on the environment. Read more -
July 2020This summary outlines the principal reasons which led to the review of the resource management system and the Resource Management Review Panel’s main recommendations in their report. Read more -
April 2003This research report examines the economic risks and opportunities associated with the release of three different types of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in New Zealand, as well as of New Zealand forgoing GMO releases. Read more -
June 1999Information on the assessment and management of sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Read more -
April 2011This guideline has been developed through a partnership between the Ministry for the Environment, regional councils and unitary authorities to ensure consistency in the reporting on contaminated sites. Read more -
February 2012The literature review examines published analysis on six emerging technologies: biotechnology, nanotechnology, chemistry, information and communications technology, waste management, and clean energy. Read more -
September 2016This draft revised guideline has been released to assist understanding of the proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health. The final revised guideline will be gazetted in early 2017. Read more -
February 2012The report examines how a number of relatively new technologies might impact on New Zealand’s economy. It applies scenario and quantitative modelling to four technologies, assessing their possible impacts on New Zealand’s economy, public health, and environment. Read more -
November 2003The Ministry and local government developed these guidelines to ensure the consistent selection and application of the environmental guideline values most commonly used in contaminated site assessments in New Zealand. Read more -
June 2020This factsheet provides a high-level overview of the new freshwater planning process (FPP) introduced by the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020. Read more -
July 2001This leaflet provides a general introduction to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Read more -
July 2001An essential reference for people affected by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Read more -
June 2000A guide on where to find information on the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. Read more -
May 2017This report assesses the structure and format of regional rules, and how they vary around New Zealand. Read more -
May 2017This report examines the use of spatial planning tools across New Zealand and identifies commonalities and differences. Read more -
May 2017This 2013 report identified practice and trends in the structure, format and electronic delivery of RMA plans in New Zealand. Read more -
May 2001This paper is a summary of the report, "Concentrations of selected organochlorines in serum from the non-occupationally exposed New Zealand Population". Read more -
January 2006This survey provides information about electrical and electronic equipment and how New Zealanders deal with them at the end of the product life cycle. Read more -
April 2019This guide outlines the process of gathering information to make decisions about investigating, managing and remediating sites in New Zealand contaminated with PFAS. Read more -
April 2006This survey provides information about electrical and electronic equipment and how New Zealanders deal with this equipment at the end of the product life cycle. Read more -
December 2008This report presents the findings of thee solid waste audits for four indicator landfills in New Zealand, during four separate weeks at each site in 2007/08. Read more -
November 2001This 2001 ‘benchmark’ survey of a nationally representative sample of New Zealanders, 15 years plus, was undertaken to help the Ministry develop a public information campaign on genetic modification. Read more -
May 2019This factsheet has information for businesses on the on the Waste Minimisation (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulations 2018 which take effect in New Zealand on 1 July 2019. Read more -
May 2017This report examines urban zone provisions within district plans throughout New Zealand to better understand the most commonly used provisions and the key differences in the core urban zones. Read more -
May 2006This case study reviewed the TyreTrack scheme and looked at what assistance a more formal product stewardship policy could have on the management of end-of-life tyres in New Zealand. Read more -
March 2003The 2002 Landfill Review and Audit provides a picture of the risks associated with landfills in New Zealand by assessing relative risks on a consistent basis nationwide using the Landfill Rapid Screening System Read more -
October 2011This checklist should be included as a cover sheet for all contaminated site investigations. The checklist is taken from the Contaminated Land Management Guidelines No.1 – Reporting on Contaminated Sites in New Zealand (Revised 2011). Read more -
June 2003Every two years the Ministry for the Environment carries out the Resource Management Act (RMA) survey of all local authorities in New Zealand. The survey includes questions about six key aspects of RMA process. Read more -
October 2011This checklist is taken from Contaminated Land Management Guidelines No. 1 – Reporting on Contaminated Sites in New Zealand (Revised 2011) and relates to the removal and replacement of petroleum underground storage tanks and underground equipment. Read more -
February 2004This guideline provides best practice for the sampling and analysis of soils on sites where hazardous substances are present or suspected in soils in New Zealand, and guidance on the principles governing the interpretation of the data obtained. Read more -
June 2008This is one in a series of information sheets providing a snapshot of the data in Environment New Zealand 2007, the second national-level state of NZ’s environment report. Each information sheet also provides tips about what you can do to reduce your impact on the environment. Read more -
May 2005Information on improving the workability of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Read more -
May 2017This paper gives an overview of the new National Planning Standards tool. Read more -
March 2018This fact sheet provides information to consider when identifying, assessing and investigating land where PFAS was manufactured, used or disposed. This guidance is intended to be consistent with the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (PNEMP) developed by the Heads of EPAs Australia and New Zealand (HEPA) and released in February 2018. Read more -
September 2020A new fast track process for more straightforward applications (district land use activities) has been introduced by RLAA. Read more -
December 2014This guide will help practitioners understand and implement new provisions that determine the timeframes for decision-making on fully and limited notified resource consent applications. Read more