State of Environment 2005

State of the Environment reports are produced by Hawke's Bay Regional Council each year with a comprehensive report every 5 years on the major aspects of our environment. The Council provides this information to give the Hawke’s Bay public a useful means of assessing changes in their environment and the effect these might have on their lives.

Research Programmes and Reports

The regional council manages a variety of resource monitoring programmes to research the state of the Hawke’s Bay environment. Detailed technical reports are also available that underpin the 5 yearly summary reports. The reports are used to assist in the review of planning documents, resource investigations and research directions. Policies to protect our resources are primarily developed in the Regional Resource Management Plan and the Regional Coastal Environment Plan and activity programmes actioned through the Long Term Council Community Plan.

Key topics in the latest report 2005

Each section highlights key points, trends, specific incidents of note and work the Council has done in the year of the report. Details technical reports on many of these aspects are available on request from the Environmental Monitoring section, Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

Land and biodiversity

Erosion is still a significant issue in Hawke's Bay and levels of residual agrichemicals in soils are consistent with elsewhere in New Zealand. However the Regional Council is encouraging sustainable land management practices and is developing a land monitoring strategy. Pest control is a significant contribution to increasing biodiversity of our land.

Rainfall patterns and River Flows

The report covers rainfall, river flows including water allocations, minimum flows and irrigation bans, and what we're doing to monitor water use.

Water quality of rivers and streams

Water quality of rivers and streams assesses the health of our waterway ecosystems. Fish monitoring is now included as an indicator of ecological health and a Point Fish Click model has been developed to show the distribution of freshwater species in the region. In 2004/04 Council researched the application of a Cultural Health Index on streams and rivers which expresses Maori as well as scientific values of ecological health.

Groundwater

Investigations suggest there is enough groundwater in Hawke's Bay's Heretaunga and Ruataniwha Plains aquifers for long term use, although there may be localised issues. Groundwater quality is suitable for drinking and irrigation but care is needed to ensure that it does not become degraded.

Air quality

Fine dust and smoke particles (PM₁₀) exceeded health guidelines on a few occasions in Hastings and Napier, particularly on cold winter nights. Napier has been monitored since mid-2000 and Hastings since mid-2003.

The coast

Our 353km of coastline has diverse features and habitats. Water quality is generally excellent, but a few problem spots occur and algal blooms occur from time to time.