National policy statement for indigenous biodiversity

New Zealand’s native species are in serious trouble. Thousands of species are threatened or at risk of extinction. New Zealand’s native plants and animals are unique because a huge proportion are found nowhere else. 

For more information on the current state of New Zealand's biodiversity see Environment Aotearoa 2022 - our national environment report.

• Provides direction to councils on how to identify significant natural areas and manage the adverse effects of new activities on them. 
• Requires councils to work in partnership with tangata whenua.
• Provides for activities that are important for social, economic and cultural wellbeing. 
• Provides for established activities to continue at the same level.
• Provides for new important or locationally constrained activities. 
• Requires councils to promote the restoration of indigenous biodiversity and indigenous vegetation cover.
• Requires all regional councils to have a regional biodiversity strategy setting out their native biodiversity priorities. 
• Requires councils to monitor our native species.

Certified copies of documents incorporated by reference into the NPSIB. The documents, or the specified parts of these documents, have the same legal effect as the NPSIB.

The chief executive of the Ministry for the Environment has certified these copies as correct. 

National List of Exotic Pasture Species

Referenced in clause 3.17(3) and presents the full list of exotic pasture species in Aotearoa New Zealand that may be considered under the definition of 'exotic pasture species'.

National list of exotic pasture species

Land Environments of New Zealand (LENZ) Classification System

Referenced in Appendix 6 and is an environmental classification of Aotearoa’s terrestrial environments that is designed to provide a framework for addressing a range of conservation and resource management issues.

LENZ provides tools for assessing depletion of indigenous vegetation or ecosystems. Incorporating electronic tools by reference is allowed under section 1(4) of Schedule 1AA of the RMA.

Land environments of New Zealand classification system

New Zealand Threat Classification System lists

Referenced in Appendix 1 and provides a tool for assigning a threat status to candidate taxa. The classification system has been developed to apply equally to terrestrial, freshwater and marine biota. The list of ‘Threatened and At Risk species’ is used in the key assessment principles in the SNA identification “Rarity and distinctiveness criterion” under Appendix 1. Incorporation of these tools are also covered by section 1(4) of Schedule 1AA of the RMA.

New Zealand threat classification system lists [NZTCS website]

NZTCS exported data [Excel, 3.4 MB]

New Zealand Threat Classification System manual

Provides the methodology for assigning a threat status to candidate taxa, which underpins the New Zealand Threat Classification System lists. The manual is used under clause 1.6 for the definition of “Threatened or At Risk, and Threatened or At Risk (declining)” for indigenous species of flora or fauna. 

New Zealand threat classification system manual

Ecological regions and districts of New Zealand

Divides New Zealand into a series of characteristic landscapes with particular biological communities according to topographical, geological, climatic, soil and other features. The document is referenced under clause 1.6 for the definition of “ecological district” as part of the SNA identification criteria and principles for biodiversity offsetting and compensation under Appendix 1. 

Ecological regions and districts of New Zealand [PDF, 506 KB]

• 7 July 2023 – gazettal of the NPSIB.
• 9 June–21 July 2022 — Exposure draft released and targeted consultation.
• 31 August 2020 — Summary of submissions published.
• November 2019–March 2020 — Public consultation on the proposed NPSIB. Over 7000 submissions were received. 
• October 2018 — Government officials continue to develop the Biodiversity Collaborative Group draft NPSIB. 
• October 2018 — Biodiversity Collaborative Group delivered a draft NPSIB and complementary and supporting measures to the then Associate Minister for the Environment Hon Nanaia Mahuta. 
• March 2017 — Biodiversity Collaborative Group began the development of a draft NPSIB and complementary and supporting measures.
• 2010 — First NPSIB proposal developed.