Freshwater Science; Basics for Planners and others Implementing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS FM)

This short online workshop covers the basic science concepts underpinning freshwater management and the NPS FM 2020, drawing on examples of freshwater issues from around Aotearoa.

We discuss the five components of ecosystem health: water quality, water quantity, ecological processes, aquatic life and habitat, including river extent and fish passage.

We explore nutrients and why we need to manage them, indigenous species and why their habitats require protection, flows and levels – why they are important and the functions they serve, what we need for safe human contact with freshwater and look at why wetlands are important and require protection.


On completion of this workshop, you will have a basic understand of the NPS FM attributes and how they relate to freshwater values.

Presenter:

Kate McArthur

Kate McArthur is an independent consultant with 20 years of experience in water resource management. She has a background in freshwater ecology and natural resource management and has worked as a senior scientist for regional councils. She has a deep interest in tangata whenua relationships with water and the environment and works with iwi Māori to develop water frameworks and cultural assessment tools.

With extensive experience as an expert witness in resource consent, council, and Environment Court hearings, Kate can assist councils, stakeholders and tangata whenua with freshwater matters in any forum. Kate has provided expert advice for twelve regional and unitary plan processes across Aotearoa New Zealand and has facilitated tangata whenua and community engagement in plan development.

Kate is President of the New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society, a member of the Resource Management Law Association, and leads national education programmes in freshwater science and policy.

Kate has worked at the national level representing tangata whenua and stakeholder interests in development of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and has been appointed by the Minister for the Environment as a Freshwater Commissioner. Kate is also an experienced and accredited RMA Hearings Commissioner with Chair endorsement. She is a guest lecturer in environmental science, resource management practice, and water policy at Massey and Canterbury Universities.

Registration is easy! Simply click the ‘Add to Cart’ button above and follow the prompts.


Hope you can join us!