Fresh Water Data

This dataset provides boundaries for catchments that drain to the sea (i.e. sea draining catchments).

It is extracted from the Freshwater Ecosystems of New Zealand (FENZ) v1.0 geodatabase. Ministry for the Environment hosts this copy of this layer for convenience and visibility. For all inquiries please contact Department of Conservation directly.

FENZ requires specialist GIS knowledge for its technical operation and biodiversity knowledge for understanding the content. Because of FENZ’s complexity, DOC is providing advice, briefings and training (where possible) to ensure users understand its strengths, limitations and appropriate applications.

If you would like more information about FENZ or access to any FENZ data sets, email fenz@doc.govt.nz.

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www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/freshwater-ecosystems-of-...

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Variables:

Catch_id - This is a unique identifier that can be used to link to other datasets in the FENZ database, or datasets from other sources that also use a FENZ id.

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Catchment names:

Currently a definitive catchment names dataset does not exist. However for your convenience, an unofficial list has been provided in the attachments ("fenz_catnames.csv") which can be joined to the catchment boundaries to provide names. Feedback on the accuracy or completeness of these names is welcomed.

This set of data sets provides a classification of geological units in terms of their importance for groundwater flow and storage. For more detail on the process and methods, see White et al. (2019). New Zealand groundwater atlas: hydrogeological-unit map of New Zealand. Lower Hutt (NZ): GNS Science. 88 p. Consultancy Report 2019/144.

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New Zealand Hydrogeological unit map (HUM) separated into aquifers, aquitards, aquicludes and basement developed in a nationally-consistent manner. This dataset includes only outcropping hydrogeological units. This dataset was also joined to the hydrogeological system dataset (Moreau et al. 2019), to provide a single polygon for each unique combination of HUM and hydrogeological system. Summary statistics of surficially mapped products are provided for each polygon (groundwater use, flow, recharge, discharge to the surface; depth to hydrogeological basement; and number of drinking water wells serving >100 people).

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Attachment: New Zealand Hydrogeological unit map (HUM) separated into aquifers, aquitards, aquicludes and basement developed in a nationally-consistent manner. This dataset includes overlapping stacked polygons that represent different aged hydrogeological units.

This data set provides an update of New Zealand’s depth to hydrogeological basement map. Depth to hydrogeological basement can be loosely defined as the ‘base of aquifers’; or more strictly as ‘the depth to where primary porosity and permeability of geological material is low enough such that flued volumes and flow rates can be considered negligible’. For more detail on the process and methods, see Westerhoff et al. (2019). New Zealand groundwater atlas: depth to hydrogeological basement. Lower Hutt (NZ): GNS Science. 19 p. Consultancy Report 2019/140.

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A national model was used to estimate depth to hydrogeological basement. Hydrogeological basement refers to geological material with primary porosity and permeability that is low enough such that fluid volumes and flow rates can be considered negligible.

This layer applies the sediment attributes’ classification, per Appendix 2C of the NPS-FM 2020, to the digital River Environment Classification (REC) v2.4 network.

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This layer is meant to support stakeholders in their understanding and implementation of the suspended and deposited sediment attributes, but it does not form part of the regulation; it is not incorporated by reference.

This dataset reports erosion modelling results regarding annual mean sediment load reductions required to meet proposed suspended sediment attribute bottom lines. For more detail on the modelling process and methods, see Neverman et al. (2019). Impact testing of a proposed suspended sediment attribute: identifying erosion and sediment control mitigations to meet proposed sediment attribute bottom lines and the costs and benefits of those mitigations. Maanaki Whenua Landcare Research Client Report. Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment.

Results of modelled mitigations are reported at catchment scale and at the REC2 river reach scale. The modelled on-farm mitigations (per economic optimisation as reported in Neverman et al. (2019) are also mapped.

Summary

Water quality for swimming categories for rivers 4th order and above. This dataset was used to compose the current state for water quality for swimming.

Note this data is under review and will be updated in due course. This information is based on modelled and measured data using the approach outlined at www.mfe.govt.nz/fresh-water/freshwater-management-... .

The modelling methods used are outlined in Snelder et al. (2016) Strategic assessment of New Zealand’s freshwaters for recreational use: a human health perspective. LWP Client Report 2016-011 www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/fresh-water/strategic...

Versions

This dataset is the geometric version of this: data.mfe.govt.nz/table/53620-river-water-quality-f...

This dataset has now been superseded due to consultation with local authorities, and this is the latest version: data.mfe.govt.nz/layer/95555-river-water-quality-f...

Column headings:

NZREACH: NZREACH from the River Environment Classification Version 1

ORDER: Strahler stream order

Category: Water quality for swimming category see www.mfe.govt.nz/fresh-water/national-targets-swimm...

PrGT540: percentage of samples that exceeded 540 E.coli per 100mL

PrGT260: percentage of samples that exceeded 260 E.coli per 100mL

Median: median E.coli per 100mL

Q95: 95th percentile E.coli per 100mL

Note: blank cells are reaches where a prediction was not possible because of missing predictor variables.

This dataset includes three “packages” of information, each with multiple variables. The packages include:

1. Load – results on mean annual suspended sediment load reported by REC 2 river reach scale for various model scenario variations.
2. Lakes – results on sediment inflow, outflow, and entrapment in lakes and reservoirs
3. Coastal – results on sediment inflows, trap efficiency, and sedimentation rates in coastal hydrosystems (estuaries)

For further detail on the modelling methods and discussing results, see Hicks, M., Semademi-Davies, A., Haddadchi, A., Shankar, U., Plew, D. (2019) Updated sediment load estimator for New Zealand. NIWA Client Report No. 2018341CH, prepared for Ministry for the Environment. January 2019. Available online: environment.govt.nz/publications/updated-sediment-...

Note that some portions of this dataset refine and update 2011 modelling on suspended sediment loads across New Zealand, whereas other components, especially the coastal package, report new modelling results.

• AccumulatedFrame dataset to accompany National water allocation statistics for environmental reporting; 2018 report.

www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/fresh-water/national-...

This report updates previously published statistics on water consented to be taken from surface and groundwater sources for consumptive uses (such as irrigation or drinking water). The report focusses on the potential pressure on surface water flows from consumptive water takes. Stream flow pressure is characterised by accumulating water consented to be taken as percentage of median flow in all river reaches affected by consented takes in New Zealand.

Data relating to non-hydroelectric consents. It contains upstream accumulated maximum consented rates by use, source and in total. Please note that the upstream accumulated total for each nzsegment can appear in multiple rows; once for each FactorName.

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This dataset was used for the "Consented freshwater takes" indicator, as part of the environmental reporting series: Our freshwater 2020. This indicator can be found at www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/consented-freshwater-...

• This indicator helps us to understand where water is consented to be taken from, how much is allocated to be taken, and what it is used for. We report on the maximum volume that can be taken annually, and the maximum rate of take by primary use, primary source, and region for consents that involve consumptive water takes.
• Our analysis and results have not included consents for hydroelectricity generation or non-consumptive water use. We also present the modelled potential impact of consented consumptive freshwater takes (excluding hydropower consents) on natural river flow across New Zealand.
• 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.

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The “Consented freshwater takes” indicator uses two datasets

• Consented_freshwater_takes_accumulated_frame. The original dataset on MfE data service is data.mfe.govt.nz/table/102976-national-water-alloc...
• Consented_freshwater_takes_take_frame. The original dataset on MfE data service is data.mfe.govt.nz/table/102978-national-water-alloc...

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This dataset shows land that would be covered by the option 1 of section 8.4 Immediate action to reduce nitrogen loss.

This web map has been developed by the Ministry for the Environment to support policy proposals in the Action for Healthy Waterways discussion document. The proposals are currently being consulted on.

It provides extra detail on Option 1 in section 8.4 of the discussion document (Immediate action to reduce nitrogen loss). The map indicates the pastoral catchments and sub-catchments specified as high-nitrate in Option 1, where regional rules are not already in place or proposed, and shows the land considered to be low-slope.

Low-slope is defined in this option as land parcels with an average slope of less than 5, 7 or 10 degrees. We are seeking feedback on the appropriate slope threshold to use.

The catchments are those with the highest 10% of nitrate levels in the MfE Environmental Reporting River Water Quality dataset found here. Catchments where the predominant sources of nitrate are non-pastoral in origin are excluded.

Under Option 1, a per-hectare cap, or threshold, for nitrogen losses will be set for each sub-catchment with similar soil type and rainfall. This threshold will be based on a ranking of nitrogen losses from farms within each sub-catchment, and could be set at the 90th percentile, or the 70th, or a point between. Feedback is sought on where this threshold should be set.

This is only one of the options being consulted on, The areas indicated are provisional and may not equate to areas included in regulation.

This set of data sets provides an estimation of groundwater flux. There are three components: Groundwater recharge: development of nationwide mean (daily and seasonal) groundwater recharge data sets through the combination of three pre-existing groundwater recharge models; Groundwater–surface water exchange: development of a national indicative groundwater discharge data set using an existing national groundwater flow model, as well as comparison with a pre-existing gaining/losing stream prediction data set; Groundwater flow: development of a national groundwater flow data set using an existing national groundwater flow model. For more detail on the process and methods, see Westerhoff et al. (2019). New Zealand groundwater atlas: Groundwater Fluxes. Lower Hutt (NZ): GNS Science. 60 p. Consultancy Report 2019/126.

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A national groundwater model was used to estimate near-surface groundwater flow amplitudes and separated into four classes to encompass the uncertainty of the dataset.