Publication Search
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September 2007This paper sets out a prioritised Ministry work programme to help manage contaminated land. 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 -
April 2004This report estimates dioxin emissions from New Zealand foundry operations that melt and process scrap metals and alloys. Volume two comprises scientific test data. Read more -
April 2004This report estimates dioxin emissions from New Zealand foundry operations that melt and process scrap metals and alloys. Volume one is the emissions estimate report. 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 -
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 -
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 -
November 2019This report presents the approach and results of groundwater use in New Zealand. 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 -
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 -
February 2001This 2001 report is an independent appraisal of the health risks posed to New Zealanders by dioxin and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls. The report contains recommendations on managing these chemicals in New Zealand, and the need to reduce population exposures. Read more -
September 2010This study reports on the use, recycling and disposal to landfill in New Zealand of articles containing brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) flame retardants. Read more -
May 2019This report analyses environmental conditions that cause the growth of periphyton in streams and rivers. Read more -
September 2020An evaluation report and compilation spreadsheet of available tools, databases and resources relating to the distribution of threatened freshwater species and their habitats in New Zealand. 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 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 -
November 1998This 1998 report provides data on the levels of dioxins and PCBs in New Zealand retail foods, including dairy products, meat and fish, as well as other staple foods such as potatoes and cereals. 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 -
December 2018Ministry for the Environment, in partnership with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, commissioned a literature review to get an accessible summary of relevant research carried out in New Zealand on methods to manage sediment and their economic assessment. Read more -
Corrections to errors on visual water clarity units in ANZECC Guidelines. Read more -
May 2018This report outlines the establishment of reference conditions and trigger values. Reference conditions are defined as the chemical, physical or biological conditions that can be expected in streams and rivers with minimal or no anthropogenic influence. Read more -
February 2012This independent report surveys literature on the regulation of chemical and biological risks in Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Read more -
June 2012This report identifies the key factors that influence businesses' decisions to innovate using new organisms in New Zealand. The aim of the project was to determine whether regulation for managing risks is an important determinant in such decisions. Read more -
July 2001This leaflet provides a general introduction to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. 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 -
September 2002This study measured dioxin in soils at residential properties in the New Plymouth suburb of Paritutu. It was undertaken because of longstanding community issues with the history of dioxin emissions from a chemical plant located in the suburb. Read more -
July 2001An essential reference for people affected by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. 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 -
June 2000A guide on where to find information on the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. Read more -
February 2003This document summarises submissions received in response to the public discussion paper, Improving the Operation of the HSNO Act for New Organisms, published in September 2002 Read more -
September 2002This 2002 discussion paper sought views on changes that might be made to the main piece of legislation controlling genetic modification - the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Read more -
April 2004This 2004 discussion document invited submissions on key issues likely to be covered by a HSNO amendment Bill. Read more -
June 2003This 2003 report set out the Government's plan to the reduce cost of complying with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act without compromising safety and the environment. Read more -
April 2004This 2004 discussion document invited submissions on key issues likely to be covered by a HSNO amendment Bill. Read more -
February 2001This 2001 report provides details about genetic modification (GM) research being conducted in New Zealand and ideas as to how GM and non-GM crops could coexist 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 -
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 investigated drivers of Phormidium blooms in New Zealand rivers to predict risk of blooms. Read more -
April 2019This report summarises analysis methods and outcomes for modelling New Zealand’s river water quality. Read more -
April 2019This report summarises analysis methods and outcomes for modelling New Zealand’s lake water quality. Read more -
May 2019This report develops a model predicting the reference state for stream macroinvertebrates across New Zealand. Read more -
January 2010This environmental snapshot provides information on the pressures on New Zealand’s environment from land use. Read more