The doors to our Whitianga and Paeroa offices will be closed for the summer break from 4pm on Friday, 20 December, while our Taupō and Hamilton offices will close for the summer break at 1pm on Tuesday, 24 December. All offices will reopen on Monday, 6 January 2025. To report air or water pollution, unsafe water activities in or on a river, lake or harbour, or make a general enquiry or information request during this time, call us 24/7 on 0800 800 401.

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Environmental indicators

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Monitoring the state of our region's environment, economy and society

Waikato Regional Council's environmental indicators summarise complex information about our environment into key measures, which may be physical, chemical, biological or socio-economic.  Our indicators help us to:

  • report regularly on the state of the Waikato region’s environment and the pressures that affect it
  • increase the awareness and understanding of environmental issues
  • measure how well we are doing in achieving environmental goals
  • prioritise environmental issues and improve decision-making.

Indicator programmes

Select a topic below to learn more about its relevant indicators.

For information about how our region’s performance is tracking strategically, see our range of Waikato Progress Indicators.

Air

We regularly monitor and report on regional air quality and sources of air pollution.

Biodiversity

We regularly monitor and report on our region's coastal, freshwater and terrestrial (growing on the land and in the ground) biodiversity.

Coasts

We regularly monitor and report on our region's coastal resources and how they are changing.

Geothermal

We regularly monitor and report on our region's geothermal resources, the pressures they face, and how they are changing.

Groundwater

We regularly monitor and report on the quality and availability of our region's groundwater.

Lakes and wetlands

We regularly monitor and report on our region's lake and wetland resources and the pressure they face.

Land and soil

We regularly monitor and report on versatility of our region's land and soil resource, and changes in regional land use.

Rivers and streams

We regularly monitor and report on the quality of our region's river and stream resources, and the pressures that face these waterbodies and the plants and animals that rely on them for habitat.

Social and economic

We regularly monitor and report on the relationships between our region's people, economy and environment.