Publication Search
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October 2017This report describes the rainfall indices and datasets used in the measure of rainfall intensity in the Environmental indicators Te taiao Aotearoa series. 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 -
February 2019This review was carried out to improve understanding of marine habitats in New Zealand. 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 -
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 -
August 2008In 2004, the Government decided to review flood risk management to ensure the framework was robust. The Ministry for the Environment led the review, and a Steering Group provided direction and guidance. This report presents the review's findings. 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 2008The Ministry commissioned an independent review to obtain stakeholder feedback on the readability, content and overall usefulness of the Environment New Zealand 2007 report. 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 -
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 -
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 -
September 2007This paper sets out a prioritised Ministry work programme to help manage contaminated land. 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 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 -
November 2002A 2002 stocktake of New Zealand's oceans legislation, policies, and strategies - and the international conventions New Zealand is a party to. Read more -
July 2006This report examines options for using market-based instruments to maximise the value and sustainability of New Zealand’s marine resource. Read more -
August 2016This report presents the findings of research into the potential adoption of a bioavailability assessment methodology for soil contaminants in New Zealand. Read more -
March 2008This report estimates the extent of dioxin contamination at sawmill sites in New Zealand where pentachlorophenol (known as PCP) was used as a timber treatment in sprays or dips until its withdrawal in 1988. Read more -
March 2008This technical report estimates the extent of dioxin contamination at sawmill sites in New Zealand where pentachlorophenol (known as PCP) was used as a timber treatment in sprays or dips until its withdrawal in 1988. Read more -
July 2009This report is the first time a national picture of water quality in dairying catchments has been published for New Zealand. The report draws together water quality and land-use information from 14 river catchments. Read more -
September 2005During 2005/06 the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) undertook a review of New Zealand’s environmental performance. This information sheet outlined the nature and process of the review and how interested individuals and groups could get involved. 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 -
October 2019This report updates indicators for non-indigenous species with new data compiled since 2016. Read more -
October 2017This report details the methodologies underlying updated estimates of glacier ice volume change in New Zealand. The estimates were used in the measure of Annual glacier ice volumes in the Environmental indicators Te taiao Aotearoa series. Read more -
September 2015Citizen science is emerging as a new source of data that could potentially be used in environmental monitoring and reporting. This project looked at the Garden Bird Survey as an example of a citizen science dataset. 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 -
October 2011A history of the Fruitgrowers’ Chemical Company (FCC) at Mapua and the clean up of the site. Read more -
August 2017This report assesses the environmental risks to the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf of threats arising from jettisoned material from space launch vehicles. Read more -
May 2014The technical report commissioned to provide us with some of the data used in the 2014 Air domain report. Read more -
March 2016This report priorities suggested improvements to enhance and expand air domain reporting. Read more -
July 2004This paper was published as part of the Water Programme of Action Freshwater for a Sustainable Future consultation. Read more -
June 2009This report presents the results of an audit of the remediation of the former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site at Mapua. Read more