Recent and upcoming Essential Freshwater implementation guidance
This list will be updated as guidance documents are completed or if an estimated delivery date changes.
- 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 for the NPS-FM 2020
Description
To help explain the process under the National Objectives Framework: from setting the long-term vision for a catchment, identifying river values, setting outcomes and limits, as well as the community engagement needed at every stage.
Delivered
January 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 Objectives Framework: mahinga kai
Implementing mahinga kai as a Māori freshwater value
Description
This report is intended to provide a starting point for implementing mahinga kai, as required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020.
Related information
Delivered
March 2022
December 2020
Fish passage
Fish passage action plan template
Fish passage action plan guidance
Description
- The Fish Passage Action Plan template and related guidance for councils (as per the National Policy Statement for Freshwater 2020).
Delivered
June 2022
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.
Expected delivery
Mid 2022
Fish passage
Description
Policy intent updates to the NZ Fish Passage Guidelines
Related information
Expected delivery
Mid 2022
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
Mid 2022
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)
Expected delivery
Late 2022
In-stream nutrients – periphyton look-up tables
Guidance on look-up tables for setting nutrient targets for periphyton: second edition
Description
Defining improved instream nutrient concentrations to achieve periphyton objectives.
Delivered
June 2022
In-stream nutrients – other attributes
Description
Good practice for setting nutrient concentrations to achieve outcomes for various nutrient affected attributes.
Expected delivery
August 2022
Sediment
Description
Guidance to help regional councils achieve sediment targets for rivers as specified in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater 2020.
Related information
Expected delivery
August 2022
Stock exclusion
Description
Monitoring and reporting requirements
Related information
Expected delivery
Late 2022
Intensive winter grazing
Intensive winter grazing factsheet
Description
Updated fact sheet
Delivered
June 2022
Intensive winter grazing
Description
Further guidance is under development to assist with implementation following amendments in April 2022 to the Intensive winter grazing (IWG) regulations in the National Environmental Standard for Freshwater 2020:
- An updated version of the 2021/2022 IWG module to reflect amendments to the NES-F and incorporate feedback received on the current module.
For the current version see Intensive winter grazing [Ministry for Primary Industries website]. - 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
Expected delivery
Spring 2022