Research highlights
Dairy cow
Enhancing business competitiveness
Eco–innovation is being driven by demand for products and services that reduce risk or harm to the environment and society. This can be achieved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions during manufacture or in the product’s use, avoiding waste, toxic materials or the use of non–renewable resources. Issues of biodiversity and water use are also gaining more public attention. Life cycle management (LCM) quantifies (in order to minimise) the environmental impacts of products and services throughout their life cycle – from raw material extraction to design, manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal or recycling.
In a two–year pilot study (funded by the Ministries for the Environment and of Economic Development and supported by BusinessNZ and NZ Trade & Enterprise), we are undertaking life cycle assessments with six manufacturing–export firms (AHI Roofing, Comvita, David Trubridge, Mastip Technology, Nufarm and Verda). The aim is to develop in–house expertise in each company so that life cycle thinking is thoroughly and efficiently integrated into every aspect of the business and its supply chain. Life cycle assessments produce multiple benefi ts – almost always reducing the fi rm’s production costs as well as the environmental costs, and delivering on customer expectations. Following the pilot study, we will be working with companies and BusinessNZ to champion LCM ‘best practice’ throughout the economy.
Assessing the viability of environmental markets
Environmental markets are among an array of intervention options available to policymakers to reduce environmental degradation or improve environmental quality. While markets are not always an appropriate policy response, they are often promoted as a more flexible option than regulation.
Our senior economists and ecological researchers joined forces to investigate the potential for successful markets in New Zealand. They found that environmental markets are not suitable for all commodities and all situations. Greenhouse gases, water quality and water quantity markets are likely to be the most straightforward to establish in New Zealand but nevertheless face numerous legal, resource and information constraints. Markets for biodiversity are more complex and are probably not feasible at present.
Environmental markets require particular conditions to work well. While markets could be successful for some commodities and in some regions of New Zealand, our environmental law, administration and data arrangements are all barriers to success. To overcome these barriers, the researchers recommended a number of actions such as amending the Resource Management Act, establishing an independent oversight committee or ombudsman, supporting market infrastructure, and developing market design and implementation guidance to assist Government and stakeholders.
Increasing the effectiveness of water governance
Our research on governance of water resources in New Zealand has focused on the needs of policymakers – particularly at the national level supporting the Land and Water Forum and central government work programme; and at the regional level underpinning implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. The latter is a very dramatic shift in the development of new governance mechanisms to deal with the impact of resource constraints on economic growth and environmental impacts. We have shown that catchment–scale economic modelling has considerable value in supporting planning and decision–making, especially when the implications of policies and land–use factors affecting water quantity and quality are integrated into the model.
Sustainable water governance also depends on effective engagement and consensus between all water stakeholders within an increasingly politicised community. We investigated the effectiveness of participation processes and water–user groups across fi ve existing irrigation schemes (ranging in age, size, history) in Canterbury and Otago. This showed effective operation of voluntary water–sharing or communal irrigation schemes depends on five ‘conditions’: community–based leadership, local identity, shared knowledge and experience, reliable and up–to–date information, and good relationships with regulators. High levels of mutual trust between those directly involved, regulators and third–party stakeholders shortened the consent process and reduced risk of litigation. Careful consideration of these five ‘conditions’ will benefit proposed and future schemes. We have already been approached by regional councils and the irrigation industry about future research in the area of water scheme development.
Visualisation tools for Māori futures
In June 2009, Te Puni Kōkiri contracted us to develop a web–based ‘visualisation’ tool that would allow Māori land owners access to data held by us and other agencies. Working with Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Justice/Māori Land Court, and with feedback from groups of Māori land owners, we developed an alpha version web–based tool that will allow all Māori land owners to view their land blocks (and surrounding land blocks) using highly detailed satellite imagery and aerial photography, with a statistical summary of its land–use capability, soil characteristics, terrain, vegetation/ landcover and climate data in a user–friendly format. This will provide landowners with an idea of the land–use potential of their land blocks and its suitability for horticulture, cropping, pastoral farming, forestry and areas for protection.
The web–based tool was presented at a national Māori land conference in July 2010 (Whenua Conference) organised by Massey University, AgResearch and Landcare Research. The tool is expected to be fully functional and publicly launched in conjunction with Te Puni Kōkiri when the project comes to completion in December 2010.
Papakāainga in urban development
Poor understanding of Māori perspectives and knowledge (mātauranga Māori) in local government, limited resources in iwi and hapū, and lack of effective enabling practices have severely limited Māori participation in local government decision–making. An overwhelming proportion of the Māori population are urban dwellers, who increasingly want to reestablish traditional values through communal and cluster–type settlements (papakāinga) incorporating cultural principles. These principles emphasise the interconnectedness of communities, hospitality, spiritual and physical well–being, healthy water and land, and the inextricable links between healthy environments and healthy people.
We have been developing systems and processes to facilitate the integration of these traditional Māori values into modern urban design and development across single–unit dwellings, subdivisions, communities or town centres. Sustainability issues are also being considered, e.g. alternative energy for self–sufficiency, eco–friendly materials with low embodied energy, and less dependence on reticulated water and stormwater systems.
Costing stormwater treatment in New Zealand
COSTnz (Cost of Stormwater Treatment in New Zealand) is a simple, easy–to–use computer tool that allows users to compare the relative life–time costs of various stormwater management devices. It was developed by Landcare Research using New Zealand data, asset managers, consultants, developers, designers and regulators. It covers acquisition and ownership costs of an asset from design, manufacturing, usage and maintenance through to disposal. It is helping to encourage low impact urban design and development by enabling decision–makers to make more cost–effective choices at the project scoping phase and providing a platform for negotiations between councils and developers regarding financial contribution.
Modules are available for ponds, rain gardens, wetlands, swales, filter strips, rain tanks, sand filters and infiltration trenches; and a generic module enables the same analysis for various proprietary devices. In each case, users can select from a range of default values for each cost element, or input data from their own suppliers or historical information. The Web application (commercially available at www.costnz. co.nz) follows a logical approach with consistent layout, and is designed to be fl exible and easy to use. Results are delivered in a PDF report format or as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that enables users to develop the costing of a full treatment–train or input data into other systems.