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).
Topic- National Objectives Framework for the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020
Description
NOF 101 infographic 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: mahinga kai
Description
Implementing mahinga kai as a Māori freshwater value (NPS-FM 2020) – a Kete (Toolkit)
Related information
Expected delivery
April 2022
Fish passage
Description
- The Fish Passage Action Plan template and related guidance for councils (as per the National Policy Statement for Freshwater 2020).
- 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).
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
Intensive winter grazing
Description
Policy and technical guidance is coming because of proposed regulation changes:
- Intensive winter grazing fact sheet update
- IWG module update
- Guidance on policy changes to IWG
- Guidance on technical changes
Related information
Expected delivery
Mid 2022
Spring 2022
Stock exclusion
Description
Monitoring and reporting requirements
Related information
Expected delivery
Mid 2022
In-stream nutrients – periphyton look-up tables
Description
Defining improved instream nutrient concentrations to achieve periphyton objectives.
Expected delivery
Mid 2022
In-stream nutrients – other attributes
Description
Good practice for setting nutrient concentrations to achieve outcomes for various nutrient affected attributes.
Expected delivery
Mid 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
Mid 2022
Wetlands
Description
A standard methodology for assessing exclusion ‘c’ of the natural wetland definition (assessing 50 per cent exotic pasture species coverage).
Related information
Expected delivery
Mid 2022
Fish passage
Description
Policy intent updates to the NZ Fish Passage Guidelines
Related information
Expected delivery
Mid 2022
National Objectives Framework for the NPS-FM 2020
Description
- Guidance for:
- managing uncertainty
- limit setting
- preliminary provisions, objectives, and policies as they relate to the National Objectives Framework.
- Guidance for setting environmental flows and levels.
Related information
Expected delivery
Mid 2022
Late 2022