This data set reports on state for the period 2016 to 2020. Coastal and estuarine ecosystems are affected by changes in water quality. Nutrients The two main nutrients of concern in coastal and estuarine ecosystems are nitrogen and, to a lesser degree, phosphorus. An overload of nutrients (eutrophication) can lead to algal blooms that can kill marine life...

The Marine Environment Classification (MEC), a GIS-based environmental classification of the marine environment of the New Zealand region, is an ecosystem-based spatial framework designed for marine management purposes. Several spatially-explicit data layers describing the physical environment define the MEC. A physically-based classification was chosen...

Adapted by Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand to provide for environmental reporting transparency. Dataset used to develop the “River water quality: Nitrogen” indicator, (available at https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/river-water-quality-nitrogen). Nitrogen in river waters is one of five parameters that provide an overview of New...

This indicator measures the number of frost days for 30 sites across Aotearoa New Zealand from at least 1972 to 2022. The number of frost days changes from year to year in response to variable weather patterns, and their occurrence is also influenced by climate change. Climate models project we may experience fewer cold and more warm extremes in the...

This data set measures the rise in annual mean sea level relative to land referenced to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1995 to 2014 baseline period mean sea level at four longer-term sites between 1901 and 2020: • Auckland • Wellington • Lyttelton • Dunedin and two additional sites with shorter time series: • Moturiki, Mount...

These data provide a snap shot of beach litter surveys submitted by Citizen Scientist ‘Monitoring Groups’ up to April, 2019. As defined by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, 2009), marine litter is any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of, abandoned or lost in the marine and coastal environment. Marine...

Small amounts of nitrogen are a natural component of healthy rivers. Nitrogen is transferred from land to water and is cycled through different forms, which can have different effects. Moderate concentrations of nitrate can cause weeds and algae to grow too fast. High concentrations of ammoniacal and nitrate nitrogen can be toxic to fish and other aquatic...

The status of our bird communities is an important indicator of the condition of our ecosystems. Many indigenous birds play key ecological roles, including dispersing seeds and pollinating flowers. In some situations, exotic (not indigenous to New Zealand) bird species can partially fulfil these roles. Measuring the composition of bird communities across...

DATA SOURCE: Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research [Main dataset and further metadata can be found at https://lris.scinfo.org.nz/layer/104400-lcdb-v50-land-cover-database-version-50-mainland-new-zealand/] Adapted by Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand to provide for environmental reporting transparency Dataset used to develop the "Urban...

To measure drought events, this dataset uses the Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), which incorporates temperature and precipitation. We report on drought frequency, duration, severity, and intensity at three different time scales, short-term (3 months), medium-term (6 months) and long-term (12 months). These different time scales...

This dataset includes the monthly average and 3-month rolling average SOI from 1876 to 2022. The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) is a measure of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the movement of warm equatorial water across the Pacific Ocean and the atmospheric response. The SOI measures changes in atmospheric pressures across the Pacific. The...

The number of indigenous animal and plant species with a change in conservation status is reported as an impact of changes in the state of our fresh water, land, and marine environments. A change in a species’ conservation status reflects a change in their risk of extinction. This dataset relates to the "Changes in the conservation status of indigenous...

DATA SOURCE: National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) [Technical report available at https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/environmental-reporting/ministry-environment-atmosphere-and-climate-report-2020-updated] Adapted by Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand to provide for environmental reporting transparency This...

This dataset measures annual and seasonal rainfall trends at 30 sites across Aotearoa New Zealand from 1960 to 2022. Variables site: NIWA climate site. season: Season or Annual data (combined for ease of data use) trend_likelihood: Likelihood of trend direction adapted from IPCC criteria. period_start: Start of trend period period_end: End of trend period...

​ Adapted by Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand to provide for environmental reporting transparency. Dataset used to develop the “River water quality: Nitrogen” indicator, (available at https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/river-water-quality-nitrogen). Nitrogen in river waters is one of five parameters that provide an overview of New...

Lightning is the discharge of electricity from thunderstorms. Ground strikes can cause significant damage to property and infrastructure, and injure or kill people and livestock. Lightning is often associated with other severe weather events, such as strong wind gusts. Thunderstorms may increase in frequency and intensity with climate change. This dataset...

Temperature at 30 sites around the country from at least 1972 to 2022. We provide data on average, minimum, and maximum for daily temperatures. Variables: site: NIWA monitoring site. date: Date (day-month-year) statistic: Statistic (Average, Max, Min). temperature: Temperature in degrees Celsius.

The location and extent of Marine mammal sanctuaries in the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone.

Benzene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that is common in the air. Motor vehicles are benzene’s primary emission source (Guerreiro, Foltescu, & de Leeuw, 2014; Weisel, 2010) although burning wood or coal for home heating, volcanoes, and forest fires also emit benzene. Benzene is a human carcinogen (World Health Organization Regional Office for...

The LUCAS Chatham Islands Land Use Map 2020 v001 is composed of New Zealand-wide land use classes (12) nominally at 31 December 1989, 31 December 2007, 31 December 2012, 31 December 2016, and 31 December 2020. These date boundaries are dictated by the Paris Agreement and former Kyoto Protocol. The data can therefore be used to create a map at any of the...