Recent and upcoming Essential Freshwater implementation guidance

This list will be updated as guidance documents are completed or if an estimated delivery date changes.

The guidance is for:

  • Regional councils
  • Iwi and hapū
  • Land and environmental managers
  • Those who farm
  • Primary sector organisations
  • Community and environmental groups,
  • Anyone else with an interest in Te Mana o Te Wai (the life-supporting capacity of freshwater). 

Guidance on the National Objectives Framework of the NPS-FM

Guidance on the National Objectives Framework of the NPS-FM

Description

This guidance will help councils and others working to implement the National Objectives Framework (NOF) and the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM).

Delivered

July 2022

National Objectives Framework

A proposed framework for managing river flows to support implementation of the NPS-FM

Description:

This report is to help regional councils understand and effectively implement the objectives and policies in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) that pertain to management of river flows to support ecosystem health.

Delivered

August 2022

National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity

Description

A high-level infographic on the NPSIB, why we need it and what the NPSIB aims to provide. Product will be posted on our webpage along with the NPSIB and other related documents when the policy is released.

 

Information sheets: 

  • General summary
  • Iwi Māori summary
  • Farming
  • Forestry
  • Urban development
  • Infrastructure

Expected delivery

April 2023 

 

 

 

Expected delivery

April/May 2023

Revised version of the National Objectives Framework for the NPS-FM 2020

Description

He Ārahitanga mō Te Anga Whāinga ā-Motu o te NPS-FM

Guidance on the National Objectives Framework of the NPS-FM

Expected Delivery

March 2023

Highly Productive Land

Guidance on mapping, and changes to regional policy statements and district plans.

Expected delivery 

March 2023

Fish Passage  

Description

The Fish Passage Assessment Tool (FPAT) instruction sheet and training video on how to meet the data collection requirements (as per the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020).

New policy intent updates to the NZ Fish Passage guidelines

Related information

Fish Passage App Tool upgrade for Councils

 

Policy intent updates to the NZ Fish Passage Guidelines 

 

NZ fish passage guidelines mātauranga update

Delivered 

July 2020

 

 

 

Expected delivery

Mid 2023

Expected delivery 

Late 2023 

Expected delivery 

Late 2024

Fish index of biotic integrity

Description

Web app tool and user guidance to calculate Fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores for the NPS-FM Fish IBI attribute (Appendix 2B, Table 13).

Expected delivery

Late March 2023

Wetlands

Description

  • A standard methodology for assessing exclusion ‘c’ of the natural wetland definition (assessing 50% exotic pasture species coverage). 
  • A finalised national list of exotic pasture species, for the purposes of assessing the ‘pasture exclusion’ from the definition of ‘natural inland wetland’. (See draft of this list which is published as part of the exposure draft of the ‘Managing our Wetlands’ consultation open for feedback until 10 July)

Definitions Guidance

This is a document to replace Defining-natural-wetlands-and-natural-inland-wetlands.pdf (environment.govt.nz)

Wetland drainage separation distance calculator

 

Delivered

December 2022 

 

 

 

 

 

Expected delivery

March 2023 

Expected delivery

May 2023

Sediment 

Description

Guidance to help regional councils achieve sediment targets for rivers as specified in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater 2020.

Related information

Managing sediment factsheet

Delivered

October 2022  

Nutrients

Description

Update of the existing A guide to setting instream nutrient concentrations.

Expected Delivery

May 2023

Drinking water

Description

  • Three updated factsheets
  • A mapping guidance doc to be incorporated by reference
  • Updated NES-DW User guide (replacement)

Best practice guidelines for activities within protection zones

Expected Delivery:

May 2023

 

 

Expected delivery

Late 2023

Stock exclusion

Delivered

December 2022

Intensive winter grazing

Description

Intensive Winter Grazing Module Version 2

An updated version of the 2021/2022 IWG module to reflect amendments to the NES-F and incorporate feedback received on the current module.

Intensive Winter Grazing Technical Guidance

Technical guidance to assist in implementing the new standards for pugging and ground cover and the identification and management of critical source areas on farm. 

Related information

Intensive winter grazing factsheet

Delivered 

November 2022

 

 

Expected delivery

Late March 2023