Publication Search
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August 2003This technical report provides information on the sources of fine particles (PM10 – particles less then 10 microns in diameter) in New Zealand. Read more -
May 2000This report describes the approach taken for estimating the water quality 'trigger' values for ecosystem protection used in the 2000 revision of the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC 2000). The guidelines were revised in August 2018. Read more -
May 2019This report refines and updates 2011 modelling on suspended sediment loads across New Zealand with new and longer calibration datasets and updated predictors. Read more -
April 2000This report provides an information base about the status of water allocation in each New Zealand region, and the systems being used to allocate water. It was prepared for the Ministry for the Environment by Lincoln Environmental. Read more -
December 2020This report surveyed international frameworks, identified important lessons for outcome-based environmental management, and helps clarify what setting environmental limits and targets will require. Read more -
June 2002Information for lake managers on on native and exotic fish populations in substantial lakes and reservoirs. Read more -
April 2017This report presents trends in the abundance of freshwater species between 1977 and 2015 based on standardised data from the New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database. Read more -
September 2019This report from ESR describes the methodology and findings of an assessment of changes in levels of compliance with the Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ) from 2005 to July 2017. Read more -
May 2019This report provides information on the susceptibility to eutrophication of coastal water bodies to nutrient loads from fresh water. Read more -
January 2004This report, commissioned as part of the Water Programme of Action, describes potential opportunities for using economic instruments to manage the impacts of land use on water quality. Read more -
October 2014This report provides recommendations for new sites to improve representativeness in the New Zealand river environmental monitoring network. 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 -
April 2017This report models the state of water quality along New Zealand’s national river network, using data measured at freshwater monitoring sites between 2009 and 2013. 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 -
December 2017This report analyses the state of freshwater quality for the past 25 years based on a national scale model. Read more -
August 2020This report describes a prototype for a New Zealand River Ecosystem Health Scorecard, conceived as a simple, easily interpretable and holistic communication tool for the state of the biophysical condition of rivers and streams in New Zealand. Read more -
December 2013An assessment of the representativeness and statistical power of state of environment river monitoring sites across New Zealand. Read more -
April 2019This report summaries the published literature on land-use impacts on New Zealand's freshwater and coastal environments. 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 -
August 2018These guidelines provide water managers with tools and guidance to assess, manage and monitor the water quality. They complement the existing National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (Freshwater NPS) which is the main direction to local government about how to manage fresh water in New Zealand. Read more -
December 2009These guidelines provide advice on how public health risk associated with cyanobacteria in recreational waters can be managed. Read more -
March 2000This protocol specifies a cost-effective method to determine the trophic levels of lakes, and changes in these levels over time. 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 -
January 2008This report, commissioned by the Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal Board of Inquiry includes key issues of the proposal, an overview of the notices of requirement and resource consent applications lodged, and an analysis of information provided by Transpower. Read more -
March 2009This report summarises changes in fish communities in New Zealand rivers, including changes in relation to different land uses. Read more -
December 2006This document provides a step-by-step protocol for the collection of groundwater samples in New Zealand. Read more -
December 2020This report translates the planetary boundaries framework to show New Zealand’s global environmental connections and quantifies where our country sits in terms of operating within environmentally safe boundaries. Read more -
February 2017This report is a strategic assessment of New Zealand’s freshwaters for recreational use from a human health perspective. It outlines the methods used to produce spatial predictions of E. coli and cynobacterial biovolume at unmonitored locations. Read more -
September 2019This report reviews New Zealand literature on the effects of environmental degradation of freshwater ecosystems on social, cultural, environmental, and economic outcomes in New Zealand. Read more -
May 2019This report outlines recommended changes to the ‘Interim New Zealand Guidelines for Cyanobacteria in Recreational Fresh Waters’. Read more -
May 2019This report analyses seasonal patterns in river and lake water quality across New Zealand, using data from 2013–2017. Read more -
November 2013This technical report provides evidence and advice used in setting the E. Coli attribute bands for secondary contact recreation in rivers and lakes. Read more -
December 2019This guide provides information for people who import, manufacture, or sell products covered by New Zealand’s Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS). Read more -
May 2019This report reviews how mechanistic (process-based) models simulate periphyton biomass using algorithms describing known growth and loss processes based on nutrients, light, temperature, grazing, and physical factors. Read more -
April 2004This document provides interim guidance on ‘functional’ indicators of ecosystem processes, such as ecosystem metabolism Read more -
May 2019This report summarises a workshop held to gather feedback on the ‘Interim New Zealand Guidelines for Cyanobacteria in Recreational Fresh Waters’. Read more -
July 2001This publication provides background information about the sources, causes and processes involved with the deterioration of streams in farmed catchments and the consequences of that deterioration. Read more -
April 2019This report summarises analysis methods and outcomes for state and trends across New Zealand’s lake water quality monitoring network. Read more -
April 2019This report summarises analysis methods and outcomes for state and trends across New Zealand’s river water quality monitoring network. Read more -
July 2009This report summarises changes in nuisance periphyton (algal) growth at National River Water Quality Network sites between 1990 and 2006. Read more -
May 2019This report analyses environmental conditions that cause the growth of periphyton in streams and rivers. Read more -
September 2019This draft NIWA report provides the first attempt to develop bottom-line thresholds for suspended and deposited sediment based on ecological responses for New Zealand rivers and streams. Read more -
May 2020This NIWA report summarises existing literature on the consequences of delaying reductions to nutrient inputs on rivers, estuaries and lakes. Read more -
April 2015One of two reports that assessed the options and implications of using the Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) as an attribute in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. It looked at identifying potential threshold values to define numeric attribute states for MCI. Read more -
December 2013An investigation into the feasibility of using freshwater fish predictive models in national state of the environment indicators. Read more -
July 2003Guidance on land use planning approaches for land that is on or near an active fault. Read more -
September 2020This document provides detailed technical guidance about the new freshwater planning process (FPP) introduced by the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020. Read more -
October 2018This document captures areas of shared interest in water quality and ecosystem health improvements and defines how the Crown and Māori will work together to make improvements to New Zealand’s freshwater. Read more -
September 2001This document summaries submissions received on the revised and new ambient air quality guidelines. Read more -
December 2004This discussion document outlines the different ways in which New Zealanders value and use freshwater. It also looks at how New Zealand’s water is managed and the pressures and challenges facing our water management system. Read more