Publication Search
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August 2017This document summaries the submissions recieved on the Government's proposal to ban on the sale and manufacture of plastic microbeads in personal care products in New Zealand. Read more -
August 2005This report summarises the views of the Stakeholder Reference Group on water allocation and use in New Zealand, and the potential approaches for improving our current allocation system. Read more -
May 2012The Minister for Climate Changes Issues sought feedback on a proposal to exempt operators of certain landfills from obligations in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS). Read more -
January 2017The Government sought views on its proposed ban on the sale and manufacture of plastic microbeads in personal care products in New Zealand. Submissions have now closed. Read more -
July 2015In 2014, the Ministry for the Environment commissioned KPMG to research economic barriers to tyre recycling in New Zealand. This report presents the findings of that research. 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 2018This report by Sense Partners examines data and analyses on the ability of New Zealand businesses and sectors to innovate and compete in a world of uneven emissions prices. Read more -
December 1998This 1998 report provides data on the concentrations of dioxins, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides and chlorophenols in river water and finfish (eel and trout) collected from 13 New Zealand rivers. Read more -
March 2020Phormidium (now called Microcoleus) is a cyanobacterium (toxic algae) that grows in some New Zealand rivers. 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 -
March 2020Phormidium (now called Microcoleus) is a cyanobacterium (toxic algae) that grows in some New Zealand rivers. It produces neurotoxins called anatoxins and ingestion of cyanobacteria mats has caused numerous dog deaths. 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 -
November 2001This paper outlines the background to two reports: ‘Economic outcomes of the Kyoto Protocol for New Zealand’ and ‘Assessment of the likely impacts on selected sectors of a domestic emissions trading regime’. Read more -
March 2020Phormidium (now called Microcoleus) is a cyanobacterium (toxic algae) that grows in some New Zealand rivers. 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 2012This publication provides a case study that reflects researchers’ observations and interviews with participants of New Zealand’s first national attempt at collaborative governance in the complex and frequently contested area of freshwater management. Read more -
February 2017Sediment is an important contaminant in New Zealand freshwaters. This report presents the development of an analytical framework to empirically relate various key instream measures of sediment to catchment sediment loads. Read more -
January 2008This report provides detailed analysis and conclusions on the potential economic impacts on Māori from the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme. It outlines economic opportunities and costs in absolute and relative terms. Read more -
July 2001A Royal Commission on Genetic Modification was established by the Government on 8 May 2000 to look into and report on issues about genetic modification in New Zealand. This report presents their findings. Read more -
October 2000This report discusses potential effects of air contaminants on ecosystems in New Zealand, and recommends guideline values to help those responsible for monitoring and managing the impacts of air pollution on ecosystems. Read more -
November 2005This report investigates the drivers behind New Zealanders' uptake of home heating and energy efficiency improvements - or their reluctance to do so. It should be read in conjunction with the Phase 2 report. 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 2019This report commissioned by the National Resource Recovery Taskforce analyses the resource recovery sector in New Zealand and the impacts on recycling following fluctuations in recycling material commodity prices as markets changed. 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 -
August 2020This report provides recommendations on opportunities to standardise domestic kerbside collections of waste in New Zealand to increase consistency, reduce confusion for householders, improve material quality and reduce residual rubbish to landfill. Read more -
August 2018The Government is proposing to phase out single-use plastic shopping bags in New Zealand and would like to hear your views. Submissions closed at 5.00 pm on Friday 14 September 2018. Read more -
June 2006This report assesses the state of knowledge and consensus on the environmental and health impacts of post-consumer waste electronic and electrical equipment, within the context of New Zealand landfills and potential illegal dumping. 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 -
November 2008The report was commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment for the SEIP TAG Electricity Issues Sub-group. The analysis involved modelling future electricity system performance in New Zealand assuming a range of CO2 prices 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 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 2016This report presents the findings of a review of continuous dissolved oxygen data in New Zealand including an assessment of observed dissolved oxygen concentrations in relation to the National Objectives Framework (point source) band thresholds. Read more -
August 2019The Government is proposing how New Zealand’s chemical management system can be improved to ensure greater protection for people and the environment. This discussion document outlines our proposals and ask questions for your feedback. Read more -
May 2020This report presents the modelled results of the impact of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (2017) and two variants of the Essential Freshwater package on New Zealand’s economy in 2030 and 2050. Read more -
May 2008This second volume of case studies provides examples of ways local government can incorporate quality urban design in strategies, plans and guidelines. It also includes examples of best practice development projects from throughout New Zealand. Read more -
February 2009This report card provides information on the state of New Zealand’s air, measuring particulate matter – PM10. The report card has been superseded by the Air quality particulate matter – PM10 indicator update published in October 2012. Read more -
May 2010This report is one of two prepared for the Ministry for the Environment by NIWA, which update national indicator data for river water quality in New Zealand and help provide the evidence base for policy and decision makers. 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 2020Between 26 November 2019 and 14 March 2020 the Government consulted on a proposed National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity to help reverse the decline in indigenous biodiversity in New Zealand. This document provides a summary of the feedback received. 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 -
August 2011In 2011, the Government consulted on the proposal for an Environmental Reporting Bill. This consultation document sought people’s input and views on the proposed options for improving national state of the environment reporting in New Zealand. Submissions closed on 18 October 2011. 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 -
December 2009The Water Research Strategy sets out the issues for water management and guides investment in water research. It is intended to guide the science sector to deliver the information and tools required to enable world class management of water resources in New Zealand. 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 2016A technical note providing an expert opinion on the likely forestry sector response to various carbon prices which was commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries and undertaken by Professor Bruce Manley of the New Zealand School of Forestry at the University of Canterbury. Read more -
February 2002This report chronicles the development of the carbon monitoring system for indigenous forests, scrub and soils. Read more -
December 2018Ministry for the Environment, in partnership with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, commissioned Perrin Ag Consultants Ltd and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research to assess the farm/orchard-gate economic impact of applying a range of mitigation practices to reduce losses of nitrogen, phosphorus, E. coli and sediment. Read more -
June 2018In this report, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) uses a dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to explore the economic impacts of transitioning to targets and a lower-emissions future, and examines how the economy changes in response to the imposition of various targets. Read more -
June 2018The Zero Carbon Bill is an opportunity for New Zealand to decide how it delivers its part in the global effort while encouraging action by others. The Bill puts a new target in legislation that gives us certainty about our long-term goals. It creates the institutions to help us get there and to hold us to account. It can also put in place the plans we need to respond to the growing impacts of climate change. Read more