A
a group of aquatic organisms that do not have roots, stems, leaves, and other specialized structures like plants
a water contaminant that can be a gas or dissolved in water. At high concentrations and under certain conditions, it is toxic to many water living or aquatic species, particularly fish and invertebrates
Macroinvertebrate Average Score Per Metric, which is used as a measure of water ecosystem health
a measurable characteristic (numeric, narrative, or both) that can be used to assess the extent to which a particular value is provided for
B
water that is saltier than fresh water, but not as salty as seawater
C
an area bounded by natural features such as hills or mountains from which surface and sub-surface water flows into streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands
a pigment present in most algae and plant species that is crucial for life and photosynthesis. Chlorophyll provides a measure of the amount of plants or rate of growth of plant species such as periphyton
a water quality measure that indicates the cloudiness or haziness of the water, caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye
D
a relative measure of the amount of oxygen dissolved in water, essential for aquatic life like fish
a relative measure of the amount of phosphorous dissolved in the water, promotes growth of algae and periphyton
E
a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea
a type of faecal bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans, other warm-blooded mammals, and birds, and is normally excreted in their waste. It is an indicator of faecal contamination of recreational waters at freshwater bathing sites
the area in and around a water body where plants, animals and other living things live, influenced by the climate and the shape & type of land around it
a type of faecal bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans, other warm-blooded mammals, and birds, and is normally excreted in their waste. It is an indicator of faecal contamination of recreational waters at marine bathing sites
a level set for each value that a particular attribute should reach to achieve a community's visions
F
a measure of the community of fish and its health. The measure relates the numbers of fish present to a predicted level based on location in the river (distance from the coast and how high up the mountain or range the fish species are found)
naturally occurring water that includes ice, glaciers, lakes, rivers streams and groundwater, but excludes geothermal (naturally heated), seawater or brackish water
Freshwater Management Unit
contains all or any part of a water body or multiple water bodies and their related surface water catchments. These are defined by a Regional Council to manage freshwater in a region. Horizons Regional Council is proposing that our FMUs contain at least one freshwater catchment or a group of catchments
G
rainwater that has travelled through the soil, or from river and lake beds, to aquifers
H
the upper part of a river close to or forming part of its source
L
a measurement tool that uses carefully selected features of submerged plants to assess and monitor change in the conditions of New Zealand lakes
M
Small organisms that lack a spine and are large enough to be seen with the naked eye such as flatworms, crayfish, snails, clams and insects
an index used in New Zealand to measure the water quality of freshwater streams. The presence or lack of macroinvertebrates in a river or stream can give an indication of the health of that waterway
food gathering areas and the associated practices of food collection
the iwi or hapū with customary authority over an identified area
the body of Māori knowledge, originating from the ancestors, including the Māori world view and perspectives, creativity, and cultural practices
Ministry for the Environment
interpreted to be 'spiritual life force'
N
under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management this is defined as the minimum acceptable state for specified compulsory values
compounds or materials necessary in any ecosystem for organisms to grow effectively, survive and decompose, such as nitrogen and phosphorus as well as minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium
National Environmental Standards - Freshwater
a highly soluble form of nitrogen that is both a nutrient and, in excess quantities, a toxic substance to aquatic life
National Objectives Framework
National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
O
Horizons Regional Council’s combined regional policy statement, regional plan and regional coastal plan. It sets out policies and rules around the way in which we interact with our natural environment in order to balance the need to use natural resources for economic and social wellbeing while keeping the environment in good health
Oranga Wai | Our Freshwater Future is how Horizons Regional Council has chosen to represent the suite of freshwater reforms from central government known as Essential Freshwater
P
a complex mixture of algae, cyanobacteria, and other microrganisms that are attached to submerged surfaces in most aquatic ecosystems, especially bedrock and cobbles
a direct discharge from a fixed point. Includes wastewater and stormwater from industries and towns
R
describes the area, or margin, at the edges of rivers, streams, lakes or other surface water bodies where plants are found
Resource Management Act 1991
New Zealand’s main piece of legislation which sets out how we should manage our environment
area, territory or region associated with an iwi or hapū
S
any particulate matter that can be transported by the flow of liquid, and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water
the average condition of an environmental measure for a given period of time.
water that collects on and moves across land, for example streams, rivers, lakes, and wetland
T
all things prized or treasured, both tangible and intangible
in relation to a particular area, means the iwi, or hapū, that holds mana whenua over that area
a concept that refers to the fundamental importance of water and recognises that protecting the health of freshwater protects the health and well-being of the wider environment
Māori customary values and practices
a pattern determined by the statistical analysis of a data series, often representing change over time
a stream that flows into a larger stream or body of water like a river or lake
a water quality measure that indicates the cloudiness or haziness of the water, caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye
V
the things that people think are important about the water
aspirational statements about the water
W
a site sacred to Māori in the traditional, religious, ritual, or mythological sense
the process of taking water from any source, either temporarily or permanently, for flood control or to obtain water for some use, such as irrigation
a clearly distinguishable volume of water, such as a lake, a stream, or a river; also includes aquifers
any channel containing water – a river or stream - that flows continuously or seasonally