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May 2019This factsheet has information for businesses on the on the Waste Minimisation (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulations 2018 which take effect in New Zealand on 1 July 2019. 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 -
July 2015In 2014, the Ministry for the Environment commissioned KPMG to research economic barriers to tyre recycling in New Zealand. This report presents the findings of that research. Read more -
June 2012This report examines whether the scale of compliance costs arising from New Zealand’s hazardous substances regime was comparable with compliance costs imposed on users of chemicals in overseas jurisdictions. Read more -
May 2017This report examines urban zone provisions within district plans throughout New Zealand to better understand the most commonly used provisions and the key differences in the core urban zones. Read more -
May 2006This case study reviewed the TyreTrack scheme and looked at what assistance a more formal product stewardship policy could have on the management of end-of-life tyres in New Zealand. Read more -
December 1998This 1998 report provides data on the concentrations of dioxins, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides and chlorophenols in river water and finfish (eel and trout) collected from 13 New Zealand rivers. Read more -
March 2020Phormidium (now called Microcoleus) is a cyanobacterium (toxic algae) that grows in some New Zealand rivers. Read more -
March 2020Phormidium (now called Microcoleus) is a cyanobacterium (toxic algae) that grows in some New Zealand rivers. It produces neurotoxins called anatoxins and ingestion of cyanobacteria mats has caused numerous dog deaths. Read more -
March 2003The 2002 Landfill Review and Audit provides a picture of the risks associated with landfills in New Zealand by assessing relative risks on a consistent basis nationwide using the Landfill Rapid Screening System Read more -
March 2020Phormidium (now called Microcoleus) is a cyanobacterium (toxic algae) that grows in some New Zealand rivers. Read more -
October 2013The Ministry for the Environment commissioned ACIL Allen Consulting to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of sorting options for e-waste plastics being recycled in New Zealand that potentially contain brominated flame retardants. Read more -
December 2012This publication provides a case study that reflects researchers’ observations and interviews with participants of New Zealand’s first national attempt at collaborative governance in the complex and frequently contested area of freshwater management. Read more -
February 2017Sediment is an important contaminant in New Zealand freshwaters. This report presents the development of an analytical framework to empirically relate various key instream measures of sediment to catchment sediment loads. Read more -
July 2001A Royal Commission on Genetic Modification was established by the Government on 8 May 2000 to look into and report on issues about genetic modification in New Zealand. This report presents their findings. Read more -
May 2018The Managing Upstream project aims to help inform management decisions when establishing freshwater objectives under the Freshwater NPS and increase knowledge on the state of different estuary types in New Zealand. Read more -
May 2018The Managing Upstream project aims to help inform management decisions when establishing freshwater objectives under the Freshwater NPS and increase knowledge on the state of different estuary types in New Zealand. Read more -
May 2019This report commissioned by the National Resource Recovery Taskforce analyses the resource recovery sector in New Zealand and the impacts on recycling following fluctuations in recycling material commodity prices as markets changed. 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 -
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 2020This report provides recommendations on opportunities to standardise domestic kerbside collections of waste in New Zealand to increase consistency, reduce confusion for householders, improve material quality and reduce residual rubbish to landfill. 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 -
June 2006This report assesses the state of knowledge and consensus on the environmental and health impacts of post-consumer waste electronic and electrical equipment, within the context of New Zealand landfills and potential illegal dumping. Read more -
June 2003Every two years the Ministry for the Environment carries out the Resource Management Act (RMA) survey of all local authorities in New Zealand. The survey includes questions about six key aspects of RMA process. Read more -
December 2015This document sets out how we will ensure ‘environmental stewardship for a prosperous New Zealand’. It is about what we are seeking to achieve, why this is important, and the approach we will take. Read more -
October 2011This checklist is taken from Contaminated Land Management Guidelines No. 1 – Reporting on Contaminated Sites in New Zealand (Revised 2011) and relates to the removal and replacement of petroleum underground storage tanks and underground equipment. Read more -
June 2016This report presents the findings of a review of continuous dissolved oxygen data in New Zealand including an assessment of observed dissolved oxygen concentrations in relation to the National Objectives Framework (point source) band thresholds. Read more -
July 2008This proposed National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management sets out the objective and policies for managing New Zealand's freshwater resources under the Resource Management Act 1991. The NPS came into effect on 1 July 2011. Read more -
August 2019The Government is proposing how New Zealand’s chemical management system can be improved to ensure greater protection for people and the environment. This discussion document outlines our proposals and ask questions for your feedback. Read more -
May 2020This report presents the modelled results of the impact of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (2017) and two variants of the Essential Freshwater package on New Zealand’s economy in 2030 and 2050. Read more -
May 2010This report is one of two prepared for the Ministry for the Environment by NIWA, which update national indicator data for river water quality in New Zealand and help provide the evidence base for policy and decision makers. 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 2017This report discusses a suite of indices that can be used to measure and report on river flow across New Zealand. This information can help indicate the effect river flows have on river processes and water availability among other freshwater values. 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 -
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 assessed Phormidium toxin levels in the Cardrona (Otago), Mataura (Southland) and Hutt (Wellington) Rivers in 2017. 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 -
December 2018Ministry for the Environment, in partnership with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, commissioned Perrin Ag Consultants Ltd and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research to assess the farm/orchard-gate economic impact of applying a range of mitigation practices to reduce losses of nitrogen, phosphorus, E. coli and sediment. Read more -
June 2008This is one in a series of information sheets providing a snapshot of the data in Environment New Zealand 2007, the second national-level state of NZ’s environment report. Each information sheet also provides tips about what you can do to reduce your impact on the environment. Read more -
June 2008This is one in a series of information sheets providing a snapshot of the data in Environment New Zealand 2007, the second national-level state of NZ’s environment report. Each information sheet also provides tips about what you can do to reduce your impact on the environment. Read more -
February 2017This report has been produced to test potential consequences of setting freshwater objectives for hydro scheme operations. Modelling was undertaken of a selection of various scenarios involving an increase in minimum flows in selected rivers to assess the impact of draft proposals to amend the NPS Freshwater Management on the New Zealand electricity system. Read more -
July 2017Since 2015, Gisborne District Council (GDC) and Beef and Lamb New Zealand have been engaging with Rere farmers to try and raise water quality together to a swimmable standard. Farmer interest and participation in the project has been high and this report tells the story of the Rere Project to date, including lessons, next steps and strategic implications. Read more -
November 2015This booklet includes a set of outcomes that detail the long-term environmental goals and intermediate targets that we believe will help us to encourage New Zealand's economic, social and cultural prosperity without comprimising our environment for future generations.. Read more -
May 2005Information on improving the workability of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Read more -
May 2017This paper gives an overview of the new National Planning Standards tool. Read more -
May 2017This paper looks at the rate at which dairy farmers adopt new technological practices. Read more -
March 2018This fact sheet provides information to consider when identifying, assessing and investigating land where PFAS was manufactured, used or disposed. This guidance is intended to be consistent with the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (PNEMP) developed by the Heads of EPAs Australia and New Zealand (HEPA) and released in February 2018. Read more -
September 2019This is the draft of the proposed new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM). It sets out the objectives and policies for freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991. Read more -
December 2020This factsheet is part of a series and provides information on the new policies for threatened species. Read more