A major new report on New Zealand\u2019s environment has revealed a worrying outlook for its unique species and highlighted declining water health, while also noting some improvements in air quality.<\/p>\n
The ministry of the environment\u2019s three-yearly update, Our Environment 2025, collates statistics, data and research across five domains \u2013 air, atmosphere and climate, freshwater, land, and marine \u2013 to paint a picture of the state of New Zealand\u2019s environment.<\/p>\n
James Palmer, the ministry\u2019s secretary for the environment, said the findings in the report were a \u201cmixed bag\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does highlight the real risks to people, communities and places, which left unaddressed threaten our livelihoods and our quality of life for generations to come,\u201d Palmer said. \u201cBut the report also shows that there are reasons for optimism.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report painted a sobering picture for New Zealand\u2019s indigenous animals, with 76% of freshwater fish, 68% of freshwater birds, 78% of terrestrial birds, 93% of frogs, and 94% of reptiles threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand\u2019s unique biodiversity has a high proportion of threatened or at-risk species \u2013 one of the highest amid the global biodiversity crisis\u201d, the report said, noting that land use, pollution, invasive species and climate change can all have an impact on biodiversity.<\/p>\n
The report also found the most widespread water quality issue affecting groundwaters was the presence of E coli \u2013 a bacteria found in the guts of animals and humans that can cause serious illness and has been linked to farming and cities in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Of more than 1,000 groundwater monitoring sites, nearly half failed to meet the drinking water standard for E coli on at least one occasion between 2019 and 2024, while nearly half of the monitored rivers shows worsening E coli trends.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a significant proportion of groundwaters have accumulated excess nitrate due to activities such as intensive farming, logging and urbanisation, which also affects water quality and degrades surface water ecosystems.<\/p>\n
Dr Mike Joy, a senior research fellow in freshwater ecology and environmental science at Victoria University of Wellington, said the report revealed the ongoing and \u2013 in most cases \u2013 worsening decline of the environment. \u201cThe report reveals starkly the fallacy of the label \u2018clean green New Zealand\u2019 and the urgent need for this to be taken seriously by government,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
New Zealand also faced a significant problem with pest plants. \u201cThe most spectacular of those, arguably, is the wilding conifer,\u201d Palmer said.<\/p>\n
Around 2m hectares are thought to be invaded by wilding conifers, an introduced pest plant that spreads from plantation forests. Their area is expanding by around 90,000 hectares a year and, without proper management, could invade about a quarter of New Zealand\u2019s land within 30 years, the majority of which would be conservation land.<\/p>\n
The report traverses how New Zealanders will be affected by the climate crisis and the increasing severity and frequency of extreme weather events such as Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. Around 750,000 people and 500,000 buildings, are near rivers and in coastal areas already exposed to extreme flooding, while low-lying communities are vulnerable to sea-level rise, and rural communities are at risk of wildfires.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll face some tough choices about our priorities as a country, including about where we put our efforts and our scarce dollars,\u201d Palmer said.<\/p>\n
The report identified some environmental improvements, particularly in air quality. While road transport remains the main source of nitrogen oxide pollution, air pollution from motor vehicles was reducing due to stronger emission standards, more people choosing to use lower-emission vehicles, and improvements to engines and fuel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve started to turn the corner in meaningful ways on some of our measures \u2013 choices about the cars we drive, the heating we use for our homes, for example, are showing up in better air quality, which is likely to flow through into better health,\u201d Palmer said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat underscores that we can make a difference, and we can build on the momentum that is already underway by doing more.\u201d<\/p>\n
This article<\/a> by Eva Corlett was first published by The GUardian on 7 April 2025. Lead Image: The k\u0101k\u0101p\u014d is one of New Zealand\u2019s endangered species. A three-yearly environmental report has issued a warning on the extinction threat to some native species. Photograph: Nature Picture Library\/Alamy.<\/i><\/p>\n Wildlife continues to face threats, which include hunting, poaching, illegal trade in animal products, habitat loss as well as a rapidly changing climate.<\/p>\n Become a Wildlife Champion by supporting our conservation partners<\/a> with a monthly donation as little as $1.<\/p>\nWhat you can do<\/h2>\n