Natural environment

Fresh water

  • Water quality: By world standards New Zealand's freshwater bodies are of good quality. They support a unique array of flora and fauna and are highly regarded internationally for their recreational value.
  • Fresh water availability and use: Increasing demands combined with current trends in climate change reinforce the need for careful management to protect water in New Zealand.
  • Land use: Changes in land use can effect the quality and availability of fresh water. In particular, the intensification of agriculture and the growth of cities and towns (urban development) affect our water resources.

Land

  • Urban catchments: Water quality and quantity in streams, rivers, wetlands, estuaries, and lakes depends mainly on land use in their catchments.
  • Agricultural impacts: Until recently we haven't really understood how land is affected by the ways we use and manage it.
  • Soil conservation: Considerable progress has been made towards more sustainable land production, however significant problems still remain.
  • Natural hazard management: Regional, city and district councils have a range of roles in managing for hazardous events, responding to emergencies and ensuring that essential services are maintained.
  • Landcare Trust: The New Zealand Landcare Trust is a non-governmental organisation facilitating sustainable land management and biodiversity initiatives with rural communities.
  • New Zealand Land Cover Database is a Crown database that translates satellite images of New Zealand into information on the different types of land cover that exist on the ground.

Air quality

  • Clean air programme: As our population, standard of living and size of urban areas increase, air pollution could get worse. The quality of the air we breathe, which we often take for granted, may be threatened.
  • The air we breathe: To protect people's health and the environment, we need to keep the air clean and free from pollution.
  • Roles and responsibilities: Regional councils and unitary authorities are responsible for managing discharges to the air, and for ensuring that outdoor air is clean and healthy to breathe in their regions.

Oceans

  • Current oceans work: Since 2006 oceans work has focused on fixing the most pressing marine problems in the short term while taking a more coordinated and integrated approach to marine management over time.
  • Previous oceans work: In July 2000, the government decided to develop an Oceans Policy for New Zealand.
  • Government agencies: A list of Key agencies with policy or operational functions relating to management of the ocean.
  • Our oceans - Marine pages for kids : Marine pollution comes in many different forms, shapes and sizes. It can effect the marine environment in different ways.
  • Jurisdictional boundaries as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Biodiversity

  • Initiatives to protect New Zealand's biodiversity: Initiatives to protect and manage New Zealand's biodiversity are being implemented in accordance with the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy.
  • Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy: In 2003, the Guardians of Fiordland's Fisheries and Marine Environment (the Guardians) completed a strategy to address their concerns about the impacts of human activities on Fiordland's fisheries and marine environment

Last updated: 24 August 2009