The Ministry for the Environment has developed a series of contaminated land management guidelines so contaminated land is assessed and managed consistently throughout the country.
We recently consulted on the Contaminated Land Management Guideline 1 and 5. Submissions on the proposed revisions closed on Tuesday 8 March 2016 and we have updated the draft guidelines based on the submissions received. We have released the draft revised guidelines as they assist with understanding the proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health (NESCS). There may be further minor changes to the guidelines as a result of the consultation on the proposed amendments to the NESCS.
You can view the draft revised guidelines via the following links:
- Contaminated Land Management Guideline No. 1: Reporting on Contaminated Sites in New Zealand (2016 revised draft)
- Contaminated Land Management Guideline No. 5: Site Investigation and Analysis of Soils (2016 revised draft)
The final revised guidelines are planned to be gazetted in early 2017. Until then, the 2011 version of Contaminated Land Management Guidelines 1 & 5 are the ‘current editions’ for NES purposes. We will provide for a transitional period before the new versions of these guidelines are gazetted to allow for investigations currently being undertaken.
To find out more on the consultation that took place on the Contaminated Land Management Guideline 1 and 5 see Consultation on contaminated land management guidelines.
The guidelines were developed in partnership with regional councils and unitary authorities.
The full set of guidelines, including the original versions of guidelines 1 and 5 are listed below.
- Contaminated Land Management Guidelines No. 1 – Reporting on Contaminated Sites in New Zealand (Revised 2011) details the type and amount of information required in a contaminated site report.
- Contaminated Land Management Guidelines No. 2 – Hierarchy and Application in New Zealand of Environmental Guideline Values (Revised 2011) ensures the consistent selection and application of environmental guideline values.
- Environmental Guideline Value (EGV) database contains the guideline values discussed in the guidelines No. 2 document.
- Contaminated Land Management Guidelines No. 3 – Risk Screening System describes the Risk Screening System which provides a nationally consistent way to rank sites that are, or are suspected of being, contaminated. The purpose of ranking a site is usually so it may be prioritised for further investigation.
- Contaminated Land Management Guidelines No. 4 – Classification and Information Management Protocols suggests a nationally consistent way to classify, manage and release contaminated site information held on council registers or databases.
- Related information: What should be included on LIM for former horticultural land – legal advice.
- Contaminated Land Management Guidelines No. 5 – Site Investigation and Analysis of Soils (Revised 2011) provides best practice for sampling and analysing soils on sites where hazardous substances are present or suspected and guidance on the principles for interpreting the data obtained.
Find out more
Hazardous Activties and Industries List (HAIL) - Compilation of activities and industries that are considered likely to cause land contamination resulting from hazardous substance use, storage or disposal.
Full information about the NES on our website, including our user guide and information for landowners and developers.