A major environmental report has revealed a troubling outlook for New Zealand’s unique biodiversity and freshwater health, though it also notes some gains in air quality.

The Ministry for the Environment’s Our Environment 2025 report, released every three years, assesses the state of the environment across five key areas: air, climate and atmosphere, freshwater, land, and marine ecosystems.

James Palmer, the ministry’s secretary for the environment, described the report’s findings as a “mixed bag.”

“It 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,” Palmer said. “But the report also shows that there are reasons for optimism.”

The report paints a grim picture for native wildlife. It finds that 76% of freshwater fish, 68% of freshwater birds, 78% of land birds, 93% of frogs, and 94% of reptiles are either threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened. These figures underscore the immense pressure on New Zealand’s native species.

“New Zealand’s unique biodiversity has a high proportion of threatened or at-risk species – one of the highest amid the global biodiversity crisis”, the report said, noting that land use, pollution, invasive species and climate change can all have an impact on biodiversity.

Water quality is also deteriorating. E. coli—a bacteria from animal and human waste—was the most common contaminant found in groundwater. Of more than 1,000 monitored sites, nearly half failed to meet safe drinking water standards for E. coli at least once between 2019 and 2024. Additionally, nearly half of the country’s monitored rivers are showing worsening E. coli trends.

The report highlights the growing presence of nitrates in groundwater, largely from intensive farming, deforestation, and urban expansion. These pollutants not only degrade drinking water but also harm freshwater ecosystems.

Dr. Mike Joy, a freshwater ecology expert at Victoria University of Wellington, said the data reflects a clear, ongoing environmental decline in most areas.

“The report reveals starkly the fallacy of the label ‘clean green New Zealand’ and the urgent need for this to be taken seriously by government,” he said.

Another major concern is the spread of invasive plant species.

The most spectacular of those, arguably, is the wilding conifer,” Palmer said.

Wilding conifers, introduced from plantation forests, now cover about 2 million hectares of land. Growing at a rate of 90,000 hectares annually, they could overrun a quarter of New Zealand’s land within 30 years, threatening conservation areas if left unmanaged.

Climate risks are also rising. The report details how extreme weather events—such as Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023—are becoming more frequent and severe. About 750,000 people and 500,000 buildings are situated near rivers or in coastal areas prone to flooding. Sea-level rise threatens low-lying communities, and rural regions face increased wildfire risk.

“We’ll face some tough choices about our priorities as a country, including about where we put our efforts and our scarce dollars,” Palmer said.

Despite the challenges, the report offers some positive news. Air quality has improved, particularly in urban areas. Nitrogen oxide emissions from road transport—the main source of air pollution—are declining. Contributing factors include stricter emission regulations, increased adoption of low-emission vehicles, and advances in engine and fuel technology.

“We’ve started to turn the corner in meaningful ways on some of our measures – 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,” Palmer said.

“That underscores that we can make a difference, and we can build on the momentum that is already underway by doing more.”

While some progress is being made, the report makes clear that urgent action is needed to protect New Zealand’s environment and safeguard its biodiversity.

 

 

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