Freshwater Data

Wetlands support high levels of biodiversity. They provide habitat for native invertebrates, plants, fish, and bird species (eg fernbird, kōkopu, and eels), many of which live only in wetlands. Wetlands act as ‘kidneys’ and giant sponges – they clean the water of excess nutrients and sediment, control flood water and pollutants, and act as carbon sinks (removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere). Wetlands have strong cultural and spiritual importance for Māori. They are a food source (eg eel, whitebait) and provide material for weaving (eg raupō, harakeke (flax)). Draining wetlands for agricultural and urban development over the past 150 years has led to significant wetland loss and deterioration.

Summary report available at www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/fresh-water/analysis-...

More information on this dataset and how it relates to our environmental reporting indicators and topics can be found in the attached data quality pdf.

"Water clarity is a measure of underwater visibility in rivers and streams and can vary due to differences in land use, climate, elevation, and geology. Water clarity can be reduced by the presence of fine particles like silt, mud or organic material in the water. This affects the habitat and feeding of aquatic life like fish and aquatic birds. Water clarity is an important indicator of the health of a waterway, and is also a consideration for recreational activities like swimming and wading.
This dataset relates to the ""Geographic pattern of river water clarity"" measure on the Environmental Indicators, Te taiao Aotearoa website. "

Water clarity is a measure of underwater visibility in rivers and stream. Water clarity can be reduced by the presence of fine particles like silt, mud or organic material in the water. This affects the habitat and feeding of aquatic life like fish and aquatic birds. Water clarity is an important indicator of the health of a waterway, and is also a consideration for recreational activities like swimming and wading.
This dataset relates to the "River water quality trends: clarity" measure on the Environmental Indicators, Te taiao Aotearoa website.

"Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant and animal life. Phosphorus can vary due to differences in land use, climate, elevation, and geology. Total phosphorus (TP) includes all concentrations in a sample, whether dissolved, in solid form or bound to sediment in the river. Dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) is the portion which is dissolved and can immediately support plant and algae growth. Excess phosphorus in our rivers can cause large amounts of (sometimes toxic) algae to grow, which can harm river health and reduce the recreational and aesthetic value of rivers.
This dataset relates to the "Geographic pattern of phosphorus in river water" measure on the Environmental Indicators, Te taiao "

"Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant and animal life. Total phosphorus (TP) includes all concentrations in a sample, whether dissolved, in solid form or bound to sediment in the river. Dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) is the portion which is dissolved and can immediately support plant and algae growth. Excess phosphorus in our rivers can cause large amounts of (sometimes toxic) algae to grow, which can harm river health and reduce the recreational and aesthetic value of rivers.
This dataset relates to the "River water quality trends: phosphorus" measure on the Environmental Indicators, Te taiao "

"Small amounts of nitrogen are a natural component of healthy rivers. Nitrogen in rivers can vary due to differences in land use, climate, elevation, and geology. 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 animals.
This dataset relates to the "Geographic pattern of nitrogen in river water" measure on the Environmental Indicators, Te taiao Aotearoa website. "

"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 animals.
This dataset relates to the "River water quality trends: nitrogen" measure on the Environmental Indicators, Te taiao Aotearoa website. "

Note that this is a large dataset so is provided as a shapefile, and will need a GIS application to view.

Adapted by Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand to provide for environmental reporting transparency. Dataset used to develop the "River water quality: phosphorus" indicator (available at www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/river-water-quality-p...).

Phosphorus in river waters is one of five parameters that provide an overview of New Zealand’s river water quality and how it is changing over time. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and is a natural component of healthy rivers. Agricultural and urban land use, and infrastructure such as wastewater treatments plants, can add more phosphorus to waterways, which can increase algae growth and biomass. This in turn causes deterioration of river habitats.

This dataset includes:

• concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) modelled for New Zealand’s river length, expressed as percentiles for the period of 2016–2020

More information on this dataset and how it relates to our environmental reporting indicators and topics can be found in the attached data quality pdf. Summary report available at environment.govt.nz/publications/environment-aotea...

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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 www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/river-water-quality-n...).

Nitrogen in river waters is one of five parameters that provide an overview of New Zealand’s river water quality and how it is changing over time. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants and algae. Some nutrient supply is a natural component of healthy rivers, but agricultural and urban land use, and infrastructure such as wastewater treatment plants, can add more nitrogen to waterways. Too much nitrogen can lead to excessive growth of algae, which can deteriorate river habitats. In very high concentrations, some forms of nitrogen, including nitrate-nitrogen and ammoniacal nitrogen, can be toxic to aquatic life.

This dataset shows:

• concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), nitrate-nitrite-nitrogen (NNN) and ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4N) modelled for New Zealand’s river length, expressed as percentiles for the period 2016–2020

More information on this dataset and how it relates to our environmental reporting indicators and topics can be found in the attached data quality pdf.

Summary report available at environment.govt.nz/publications/environment-aotea...

Note that this is a large dataset so is provided as a shapefile, and will need a GIS application to view.

Adapted by Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand to provide for environmental reporting transparency. Dataset used to develop the "River water quality: macroinvertebrate community index" indicator (available at www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/river-water-quality-m...).

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Benthic macroinvertebrates are small animals without backbones (for example, insects and worms). They live on and under submerged logs, rocks, and aquatic plants on the beds of rivers and streams during some part of their life cycle. Macroinvertebrates play a central role in stream ecosystems by feeding on periphyton (algae), macrophytes (aquatic plants), dead leaves and wood, or on each other. In turn, they are an important food source for fish and birds.

The macroinvertebrate community index (MCI) is used as an indicator of water quality and overall stream health. It is one of five parameters that provide an overview of New Zealand’s river water quality and how it is changing over time. This data shows:

• MCI scores as modelled median values for New Zealand’s river length for the period 2016–2020

More information on this dataset and how it relates to our environmental reporting indicators and topics can be found in the attached data quality pdf. Summary report available at environment.govt.nz/publications/environment-aotea....