Publication Search
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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 -
March 2005The Action Pack supports the implementation of the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol by providing ideas of actions that could form part of signatories' commitments to the Protocol. 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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 This report card has been superseded by the Marine Protected Areas indicator update published in 2012.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 -
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 -
November 2016This guide outlines good practice recommendations for assessing air quality in New Zealand, mainly for the purpose of resource consent applications. It provides a practical and reasonable approach to managing discharges to air from industry. Read more -
July 2008This proposed National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management sets out the objective and policies for managing New Zealand's freshwater resources under the Resource Management Act 1991. The NPS came into effect on 1 July 2011. 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 -
April 2005The Urban Design Continuing Professional Development Programme training course material provides an introduction to the principles and methods of urban design in New Zealand. It aims to develop a shared understanding of urban design principles, tools and techniques. 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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
December 2017This document is a summary of the Ministry’s technical report, Coastal Hazards and Climate Change – Guidance for Local Government in New Zealand. It summaries the step-by-step approach developed in the guidance to help local government and others assess, plan for, and manage the increasing risks facing coastal communities. 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 -
February 2010This discussion document, including the proposed national environmental standard and supporting soil guideline values, propose planning controls appropriate to district and city council plans for assessing contaminants in soil, and a set of chemical-specific soil contaminant thresholds that will define an adequate level of protection for human health for a range of differing land-uses in New Zealand. Read more -
November 2019This consultation document provides information about the proposed new National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity. Read more -
July 2015The purpose of this consultation document was to seek views on proposed amendments to the Climate Change (Liquid Fossil Fuels) Regulations 2008. The purpose of the regulations is to regulate the collection of information and calculation of emissions for the purpose of surrendering units by obligation fuel participants and opt-in participants in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme. Read more -
March 2011The Climate Change Response Act 2002 required a review of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme to be completed before the end of 2011. The Act required the Minister for Climate Change Issues (the Minister) to appoint a panel to conduct the review and specify the terms of reference for its review. This consultation document sets out the issues on which the Panel wished to focus consultation with stakeholders. Read more -
August 2019This document provides an ‘at a glance’ summary of the Government’s consultation on a proposal for a new National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD). Read more -
May 2005Information on improving the workability of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Read more -
December 2005This guide is designed to help you consider how moving into new offices (fit-out) or changing existing offices to meet new needs (refurbishment) can be done in ways that are as mindful of the environment as possible. Read more -
September 2019This is the draft of the proposed new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM). It sets out the objectives and policies for freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991. 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 -
December 2014This guide will help practitioners understand and implement new provisions concerning the required content of resource consent applications under section 88 and Schedule 4 of the RMA. Read more -
June 2003The Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy is an initiative of the Guardians of Fiordland’s Fisheries and Marine Environment community which promotes a new approach to protecting the Fiordland marine environment through co-operative and integrated management. Read more -
May 2014This discussion document sought feedback on whether the Government should intervene to improve the management of four product waste streams: electronic and electrical equipment; tyres; agrichemicals and farm plastics; and refrigerants. Submissions closed 2 July 2014. Read more -
July 2020This document summaries the submissions received during consultation on proposed priority products and priority product stewardship scheme guidelines. Read more -
August 2019This brochure provides a summary of our consultation document on proposed priority products and priority product stewardship guidelines. The consultation will determine which products are included in co-design of regulated production stewardship schemes and the guidelines co-design. Read more -
Proposed priority products and priority product stewardship scheme guidelines: Consultation documentAugust 2019This consultation document presents the Government's proposals for co-design of regulated product stewardship schemes, including the proposed priority products and design guidelines for accredited schemes. 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 -
December 2013This document summarises the submissions received on the Activity Classifications under the EEZ Act discussion document and presents the main issues and themes raised. Read more -
December 2000The Stream Periphyton Monitoring Manual describes a standard set of methods for regional councils, consultants and researchers to collect and analyse data on periphyton for resource surveys, impact assessments/monitoring, state of environment reporting and research studies. Read more -
April 2020Our freshwater 2020 examines the most pressing issues on our freshwater. Read more -
March 2006These best practice guidelines have been developed to identify, assess and manage environmental impacts associated with petroleum exploration, development and production activities being undertaken in NZ's Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf beyond the Territorial Sea. Read more -
August 2016The Government is considering how best to manage space vehicle launches and is seeking feedback on its proposed regulation. Read more -
March 2009The Urban Design Toolkit is a compendium of tools that can be used to facilitate high-quality urban design. Read more -
April 2019This summary provides an overview of Environment Aotearoa 2019. Read more -
October 2015Environment Aotearoa 2015 provides an overall picture of our environment across the air, atmosphere and climate, fresh water, land and marine domains and shows interactions between each domain. Read more -
April 2019Environment Aotearoa 2019 provides an overview of the state of our environment. Using five broad themes the report presents nine priority environmental issues. Read more -
June 2018 -
April 2011The National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2011 sets out the objective and policies for renewable electricity generation under the Resource Management Act 1991. The NPS REG came into effect on 13 May 2011. Read more