Ministry for the Environment

Ministry for the Environment New Zealand’s lead advisor on the environment and climate. Enabling people and places to thrive, now and in the future.

This page contains information about the work of the Ministry for the Environment and about local and international environmental matters in general. Our social media guidelines can be found here: https://environment.govt.nz/about-us/social-media-community-guidelines/

10/06/2026

Did you know groundwater supplies drinking water to nearly half of New Zealand and supports around 80 percent of our rivers to flow?

But what exactly is groundwater? And why is it so important?

Read the companion document for Our Freshwater 2026 to find out more: https://bit.ly/4vGxHJk

Happy World Environment Day 🌏💚This year’s theme focuses on climate change and the impact it is having on people’s lives....
04/06/2026

Happy World Environment Day 🌏💚

This year’s theme focuses on climate change and the impact it is having on people’s lives.

One way we’re helping people adapt to the changing climate is by creating the country’s first national flood map.

The New Zealand Flood map will help give communities a clearer picture of flood hazard across the country, at a time when extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.

This supports planning and preparation for climate change over time.

21/05/2026

It’s the year 2080… and I’m praying I won’t need a jacket for the big 90th bday party because it’s NOT part of the fit.

While weather can’t be predicted to-the-day so far out, data projections allow us to predict general climate trends across the country.

Taking a look around our climate projections map, there’s interesting information on areas more likely to experience hot or cold days, higher or lower rainfall and average wind speeds (among other things).

Go check out the map for yourself - you’ll need to jump over onto desktop for it to run: https://environment.govt.nz/facts-and-science/climate-change/climate-change-projections/climate-projections-map/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQa0HBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPSFJ6aHFEZ1cxdnFaQTlUc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHusYf3LENyV4GJC39V5j9Zz947_E-D9NCt7hcWo13GoKwODDwWkj9a1E5Aef_aem_Vqn_xYitfIOoowu8sNqEnQ

15/05/2026

Bird's-eye view of what makes this place so special 🌊

12/05/2026

Missing the moana? Here’s a little boost for you.

08/05/2026

Joining our Department of Conservation colleagues in wishing Sir David Attenborough a happy 100th birthday 🥳

There are scarier things than a clown with a red balloon heading down the drain… 🎈 Stormwater drains flow straight out i...
07/05/2026

There are scarier things than a clown with a red balloon heading down the drain… 🎈

Stormwater drains flow straight out into our waterways, carrying whatever enters them along the way.

Pollutants like car wash runoff, detergents and household wastewater can enter these drains

These contaminants can harm fish, shellfish and other aquatic life.

Simple actions like keeping chemicals out of drains, washing cars on grass and disposing of wastewater properly help protect our waterways and oceans.

Do you recognise this beautiful New Zealand coastline?This photo was taken in 1958, but can you guess where?Let us know ...
05/05/2026

Do you recognise this beautiful New Zealand coastline?

This photo was taken in 1958, but can you guess where?

Let us know in the comments.

📸 Whites Aviation Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library

20/04/2026

Recently we visited Te Karaka, a town in Gisborne that was cut off during Cyclone Gabrielle.

No electricity and little clean water.

Since then, the community has worked hard to be ready for extreme weather.

This includes planning a solar farm to help keep the power on during extreme weather, helped by funding from the Māori Climate Platform.

The platform was established to support Māori climate action by investing in marae-based projects that build resilience to climate change.

Give their story a watch ▶️

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