Environment Waikato is your regional council which helps communities, industry and other groups to live and work with natural resources. Our activities help us look after our region's water, soil, air, geothermal areas and coasts - so we can all enjoy these precious resources for generations to come. Find out more about Environment Waikato's work in the community.
On this page:
Biodiversity
We're working with many community partners to protect and enhance the plants and animals that make the Waikato a special place - our biodiversity. We've helped establish a Waikato Biodiversity Forum to begin a Biodiversity Advisory Service, and plan what needs to be done to restore habitat.
Civil Defence
We are responsible for planning for and responding to regional emergencies, such as flooding, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and other major events.
Find out more about Environment Waikato's Civil Defence and Emergency Management role in the Waikato region.
Coastal areas
We plan for and manage the effects of activities on our coasts and in the coastal marine area.
- The region has 1200 km of open coast and estuarine shoreline.
- The Firth of Thames has special importance as a wintering ground for wading birds of the South Western Pacific.
- Coastal resorts at Raglan and on the Coromandel Peninsula attract large numbers of tourists.
Environmental Education
Education encourages people to understand their place in the natural environment and the part they can play in caring for their region. We support many initiatives, such as Zero Waste, schools programmes, business education programmes and Care groups operating in the city and throughout the region.
Find out more about our Environmental Education programmes.
Flood and land protection
We work with communities to plan for flood protection, erosion control and land drainage through out flood control schemes. Our flood protection activities also include regular river levels and rainfall monitoring.
Natural hazards
We work to reduce the effects of the region's many natural hazards, including flooding, volcanic eruption, coastal erosion and earthquakes. Our flood control schemes reduce the risk to communities and monitoring natural hazards will help to save lives and property in an emergency.
Planning
We develop, implement and review the region's rules, which provide certainty for everyone wanting to use our valuable resources. Our Regional Plan:
- sets minimum environmental requirements
- reduces bureaucracy by allowing a wide range of activities to go ahead without resource consents (as long as standards are met)
- reduces costs to resource users.
Find out more about Environment Waikato's Policy and Plans.
Plant and animal pests
We're achieving excellent possum control rates and about a third of the region has continuing possum control to contain bovine Tb, which is vital to our essential agricultural industry, and to improve forest health. Pests also damage the region's biodiversity - our variety of life.
Find out more about our region's plant and animal pests.
Resource consents and monitoring
We use plans, education, regulation and information to manage natural and physical resources, natural hazards and hazardous materials. The region's natural resources include air, land, water, geothermal and coasts.
We're responsible for issuing resource consents which allow people to use these natural resources sustainably. Consents often contain conditions which make sure the environment is protected. Monitoring ensures the use of these resources does not harm the environment. We also respond to pollution complaints and incidents 24 hours a day.
Resource information
We use the wide range of environmental information we collect to develop policies and plans to manage and protect our environment. We also collect information on the social, economic and cultural characteristics of our region, which are closely linked with its natural resources.
Transport
Environment Waikato is responsible for strategic planning of land transport, passenger transport and road safety for the region. We provide passenger transport services in Hamilton City and manage a Total Mobility scheme, which provides transport services for people with disabilities. Our region has:
- Over 1600 km of state highway network traverse the region.
- Seven railway lines carry passengers and freight.
- An international airport at Hamilton and many small airports in the region.
- Important arterial links for transporting goods to and from the ports of Auckland, Napier, Tauranga/Mount Maunganui and Napier.
More information
Environment Waikato's regional rates fund part of the work we do. Our rates information has details on how your regional rates are calculated, payment options and penalties, rating scheme descriptions, legal requirements and policy. You can also work out regional rates for your property using our calculation form.