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
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. See NPSIB web page.
Information sheets:
- General summary includes te reo version
- General summary: information for tangata whenua includes te reo version
Delivered
July 2023
July 2023
Revised version of the National Objectives Framework for the NPS-FM 2020
Delivered
April 2023
Highly Productive Land
Guidance on mapping, and changes to regional policy statements and district plans.
See National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land: Guide to implementation
Delivery
March 2023
Fish Passage
Description
The Fish Passage Assessment Tool (FPAT) instruction sheet and training video [Youtube] explain how to meet the data collection requirements (as per the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020).
Technical update to the Fish Passage Assessment Tool (FPAT) [NIWA].
An update to the legislative section of the New Zealand Fish Passage Guidelines and a technical update to expand the Guidelines to include fish passage structures over 4 metres.
An update to the New Zealand Fish Passage Guidelines to ensure they have a Te Ao Māori (Māori worldview) context, including fish passage mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge).
Delivered
August 2022
April 2023
Expected delivery
March 2024
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).
Fish index of biotic integrity web app
Using the fish index of biotic integrity calculator to meet the NPS-FM
Delivered
July 2023
Wetlands
Description
- The Wetlands Factsheet was replaced with the Natural Inland Wetlands Factsheet to highlight the amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 that came into effect on 5 January 2023.
- The Pasture exclusion assessment methodology covers how to assess clause (e)(ii) of the natural inland wetland definition (assessing more than 50% exotic pasture species coverage).
- A National list of exotic pasture species, to enable assessments of clause (e)(ii) of the natural inland wetland definition was produced, alongside a literature review by Cosgrove et al 2022, and provided by those authors as an excel spreadsheet.
- Updated Wetland Delineation Protocols that were updated to include the Wetland delineation hydrology tool for Aotearoa New Zealand (released December 2021).
- Webinars on using the wetland delineation tools: Vegetation tool and pasture exclusion methodology [Youtube], Hydric soil tool [Youtube] and Hydrology tool [Youtube].
- A wetland mapping methodology that covers wetland identification and classification using desktop and field methods.
- Guidance on how to apply the Effects Management Hierarchy to consent applications relating to natural inland wetlands.
Delivered
December 2022
October 2023
Expected delivery
Mid 2024
Sediment
Description
Guidance to help regional councils achieve sediment targets for rivers as specified in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater 2020.
Related information
Delivered
October 2022
Nutrients
Description
Update of the existing A guide to setting instream nutrient concentrations.
Expected Delivery
August 2023
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
Delivered
November 2022
March 2023