Publication Search
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March 2014This inventory of anthropogenic (human made) mercury sources and use in New Zealand was completed in 2012 as part of the national interest assessment for the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Read more -
August 2009The report is part of a series of three reports that strengthen the evidence base for a potential industry-led voluntary product stewardship scheme. It assesses the environmental impact of mercury-containing lamps compared to the impact of mercury from other sources. Read more -
October 2019This report updates previously published data (2015) on coastal sea-surface temperature from 11 sites around 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 -
October 2014This report was prepared for the Ministry to accompany the database of non-levied waste facilities in New Zealand. It summarises the statistical findings, methodology and data limitations. Read more -
December 2009In this report, Boffa Miskell Ltd analyses international approaches to resource efficiency, to inform the development of an approach that is specific and applicable to New Zealand and allows comparisons with other countries. Read more -
June 2005The Marine Environment Classification (MEC) provides a general map that shows the variation in both the physical and biological characteristics of New Zealand's marine area within our Exclusive Economic Zone. Read more -
May 2003This report consolidates the different farm plans used in New Zealand into one document. It sets out the components of the farm plans, how they are used by regional councils and industry, and discusses their merits and effectiveness in environmental management on farms. Read more -
April 2019This report updates the state and trends of water quality of coastal and estuarine waters for physico-chemical (eg, pH), optical (eg clarity), nutrients (eg, nitrates), and microbiological parameters (eg, enterococci). Read more -
June 2010This report is the third in a series of reports contracted by the Ministry from Boffa Miskell Ltd on resource efficiency in New Zealand. Read more -
August 2015In 2014, the Ministry for the Environment commissioned SLR to develop a product stewardship framework for e-waste in New Zealand. SLR undertook stakeholder engagement and consultation, collection and analysis of e-waste data specific to New Zealand, and analysis of product stewardship options for e-waste. This report presents the findings of this research. Read more -
November 2014This report examines waste produced in households in New Zealand (2009). 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 -
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 -
February 2010This report outlines a process for measuring and reporting resource efficiency. Read more -
January 2008This report investigates ways to promote the recycling and better management of mercury-containing lamps. Read more -
November 2010The Ministry engaged independent consultants to develop and test a way of quantifying the benefits of resource efficiency to the New Zealand economy. 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 -
January 2016New Zealand's submission to the International Seabed Authority to support the development of a regulatory framework for the exploitation of seabed minerals. 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 -
October 2019This report updates indices for coastal and ocean extreme waves previously developed to quantify the occurrence of extreme wave events in New Zealand on an annual basis. Read more -
October 2019This report provides new coastal chlorophyll-a and sea-surface temperature analyses within New Zealand’s territorial waters. Read more -
December 2013An assessment of the representativeness and statistical power of state of environment river monitoring sites across New Zealand. Read more -
July 2011This report presents information about consented cleanfills and landfills in New Zealand that are not subject to the Waste Disposal Levy. Read more -
June 2005This 2005 report outlines opportunities to improve the requirements in the management of the environmental impacts of activities in New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Read more -
September 2001Report on consultation undertaken in 2001 by the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Oceans Policy. Read more -
March 2009This report summarises changes in fish communities in New Zealand rivers, including changes in relation to different land uses. Read more -
June 2003This 2003 report prepared by the Centre for Advanced Engineering provided information on economic opportunities for New Zealand's oceans. 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 -
October 2020This report assesses the suitability of using New Zealand Rural Fire Authority’s Fire Danger Rating System as an indicator on wildfire risk for the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ’s environmental reporting. Read more -
August 2007The Ministry released this discussion paper on 1 August 2007. The paper proposed establishing new legislation to fill key gaps in the environmental regulation of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and promoted a consistent approach to environmental management. Read more -
October 2019This report updates previously published statistics on mean sea-level series and trends at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, New Plymouth and Moturiki (Mount Maunganui) to the end of 2018. 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 2007This document provides a summary of the submissions received in response to the discussion paper, Improving Regulation of Environmental Effects in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone, released by the Ministry in 2007. 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 -
October 2013The Ministry for the Environment commissioned ENVIRON Australia Pty Ltd, to investigate the practicalities of identifying, sorting and segregating plastics in the e-waste recycling industry, according to those components that contain banned brominated flame retardant (BFR) chemicals. Read more -
September 2007This paper sets out a prioritised Ministry work programme to help manage contaminated land. 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 -
May 2006This report, commissioned in 2006, examines possible government actions and their ability to contribute to the sustainable development of marine resources. Read more -
May 2012This independent report prepared for the Ministry by NIWA lists the known possible activities in the EEZ and describes their likely risk to the environment. It also recommends how activities could be classified under the proposed regulatory framework. Read more -
June 2009The report is part of a series of three reports that strengthen the evidence base for a potential industry-led voluntary product stewardship scheme. 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 -
June 2005This 2005 report looked at the information and tools needed to make smart decisions about the best future uses of our ocean. It assessed the range of information and decision-making tools available in 2005 and identified opportunities to improve requirements. Read more -
December 2013An investigation into the feasibility of using freshwater fish predictive models in national state of the environment indicators. Read more -
January 2016This consultation document sets out the Government’s proposal for a new approach to marine protection in New Zealand. The submission period has now closed. Read more -
December 2013In 2013, the Government sought feedback on an exposure draft of the proposed exploratory drilling for oil and gas regulations under the EEZ Act. This document provided supporting information for the consultation. Consultation closed 31 January 2014. Read more -
March 2014This document summarises the submissions received on the exposure draft of regulations for exploration drilling for oil and gas under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 and presents the main issues and themes raised. Read more -
August 2006This document is the summary of submissions received on the Product Stewardship and Water Efficiency Labelling Discussion Document 2005. Read more -
July 2018In 2017, the Government strengthened the regulatory framework for the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas structures and pipelines in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This includes a new requirement for operators to provide a decommissioning plan before applying for a decommissioning-related marine consent. Read more