Publication Search
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July 2004The 2004 New Zealand Packaging Accord was a partnership between government and industry to make more sustainable use of packaging. Read more -
October 2010This document provides a summary of the main issues raised in submissions on the Ministry’s discussion document, Waste Minimisation in New Zealand: A Discussion Document. 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 -
June 2002Information for lake managers on on native and exotic fish populations in substantial lakes and reservoirs. Read more -
October 2010The New Zealand Waste Strategy sets out the Government's long-term priorities for waste management and minimisation in New Zealand. This Strategy replaces the 2002 New Zealand Waste Strategy. 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 -
December 2006This document provides a step-by-step protocol for the collection of groundwater samples in New Zealand. 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 -
March 2009The discussion document sought feedback on policy proposed to implement the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. Submissions closed on 15 May 2009. 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 -
November 2006This 2006 discussion paper draws together the measures that make up New Zealand’s contaminated land policy framework, and evaluates them to identify any gaps and possible solutions/improvements to the existing framework. Read more -
April 2004This document provides interim guidance on ‘functional’ indicators of ecosystem processes, such as ecosystem metabolism Read more -
September 2007This report contains a summary of the submissions received on the discussion paper Working Towards a Comprehensive Policy Framework for Managing Contaminated Land in New Zealand – Discussion paper. 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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
August 2006This document is the summary of submissions received on the Product Stewardship and Water Efficiency Labelling Discussion Document 2005. Read more -
September 2001This document summaries submissions received on the revised and new ambient air quality guidelines. Read more -
November 1998A 1998 discussion paper on managing hazardous waste in New Zealand. 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 -
June 2002Information for lake managers on pest fish and weeds in New Zealand lakes. Read more -
June 2001The Soil Conservation Handbook is a comprehensive collection of information about soil conservation in New Zealand. Part A covers the forms and processes of the main types of erosion in New Zealand while Part B describes the control techniques. Read more -
October 2018This document sets out the Government’s plan to restore and protect freshwater in New Zealand. Read more -
November 2001This protocol identifies and describes standardised protocols for use by agencies throughout New Zealand for macroinvertebrate biomonitoring. Read more -
October 2018This document describes a framework for assessing the biophysical ecosystem health of fresh water in Aotearoa New Zealand. Read more -
February 2016This consultation document sets out the Government’s proposals to improve the management of fresh water in New Zealand. Read more -
October 2010This discussion document presents options for improving New Zealand’s resource management regulations and processes. Submissions closed 17 December 2010. Read more -
March 2013This paper sets out the Government’s approach to reforming New Zealand’s freshwater management system. Comments closed on 8 April 2013. Read more -
March 2002The Solid Waste Analysis Protocol aims to facilitate the collection of consistent and reliable data on solid waste in New Zealand. Read more -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 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