Thank you for your e-mail to Enquiries at NIWA.  We have received your
query and will respond as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Enquiries

Enquiries

[1][IMG] National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA)
New Zealand
Connect with NIWA: [2]niwa.co.nz [3]Facebook [4]LinkedIn
[5]Twitter [6]Instagram [7]YouTube

To ensure compliance with legal requirements and to maintain cyber
security standards, NIWA's IT systems are subject to ongoing monitoring,
activity logging and auditing. This monitoring and auditing service may be
provided by third parties. Such third parties can access information
transmitted to, processed by and stored on NIWA's IT systems.
Note: This email is intended solely for the use of the addressee and may
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References

Visible links
1. https://www.niwa.co.nz/
2. https://www.niwa.co.nz/
3. https://www.facebook.com/nzniwa
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/niwa
5. https://twitter.com/niwa_nz
6. https://www.instagram.com/niwa_science
7. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ-j3ML...

Kia ora J Wilson,

Thank you for your email. We acknowledge receipt of your OIA request below.

We will respond as soon as possible and no later than 12 February 2024, being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

Ngā mihi,
Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: Enquiries <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, January 8, 2024 1:56 PM
To: Melissa Bray <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Levels of chemicals, heavy metals and other in New Zealand water, soil and air

-----Original Message-----
From: J Wilson <[FOI #25271 email]>
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2023 12:50 PM
To: Enquiries <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Levels of chemicals, heavy metals and other in New Zealand water, soil and air

Dear National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited,

Please can you tell me what chemicals and metals can be found in New Zealand water -- in reservoirs, lakes, streams, rivers, the sea -- and in NZ soil and air. Please detail the chemicals and metals found in New Zealand water, soil or other surfaces and air over the last five years.

Are there metals or heavy metals in the water of any type or location, and in the soil and air, such as copper, mercury, lead, cadmium, aluminium, barium, iron, strontium, graphene, or any others? What are the levels of these or other metals in the water, soil and air? Do different bodies of water and areas of soil in New Zealand have different levels of metals and chemicals? Please can you detail regional differences.

Are there any micro-plastics or nanoparticles found in the water of any type, soil and air, and if so, what are they, and what are they levels of them over the last five years? If so, where do these items come from? Have levels of these items increased during the last five years?

Have levels of heavy metals in soil, water and air increased over the last five years in NZ?

Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,

J Wilson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #25271 email]

Is [NIWA request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

[https://www.niwa.co.nz/static/niwa-2018-... <https://www.niwa.co.nz/>
Melissa Bray
Communications Lead - Technology & Innovation and Internal Comms

+64-9-375-7135

National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA)
41 Market Place, Viaduct Harbour Auckland New Zealand
Connect with NIWA: niwa.co.nz<https://www.niwa.co.nz/> Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/nzniwa> LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/niwa> Twitter<https://twitter.com/niwa_nz> Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/niwa_science> YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ-j3ML...>
To ensure compliance with legal requirements and to maintain cyber security standards, NIWA's IT systems are subject to ongoing monitoring, activity logging and auditing. This monitoring and auditing service may be provided by third parties. Such third parties can access information transmitted to, processed by and stored on NIWA's IT systems.
Note: This email is intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is confidential or subject to legal professional privilege. If you receive this email in error please immediately notify the sender and delete the email.

hide quoted sections

Kia ora J Wilson

I refer to your OIA request dated 21 December 2023 for information on the level of chemicals, heavy metals and other in New Zealand water, soil and air.

We have transferred part of your request to Manaaki Whenua. Part of the information to which your request relates to soil. This information is not held by us but is believed to be more closely connected with the functions of Manaaki Whenua.

You will hear further from Manaaki Whenua concerning this part of your request.

Kind regards,
Melissa Bray

-----Original Message-----
From: Melissa Bray
Sent: Monday, January 8, 2024 2:08 PM
To: [FOI #25271 email]
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Levels of chemicals, heavy metals and other in New Zealand water, soil and air

Kia ora J Wilson,

Thank you for your email. We acknowledge receipt of your OIA request below.

We will respond as soon as possible and no later than 12 February 2024, being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

Ngā mihi,
Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: J Wilson <[FOI #25271 email]>
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2023 12:50 PM
To: Enquiries <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Levels of chemicals, heavy metals and other in New Zealand water, soil and air

Dear National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited,

Please can you tell me what chemicals and metals can be found in New Zealand water -- in reservoirs, lakes, streams, rivers, the sea -- and in NZ soil and air. Please detail the chemicals and metals found in New Zealand water, soil or other surfaces and air over the last five years.

Are there metals or heavy metals in the water of any type or location, and in the soil and air, such as copper, mercury, lead, cadmium, aluminium, barium, iron, strontium, graphene, or any others? What are the levels of these or other metals in the water, soil and air? Do different bodies of water and areas of soil in New Zealand have different levels of metals and chemicals? Please can you detail regional differences.

Are there any micro-plastics or nanoparticles found in the water of any type, soil and air, and if so, what are they, and what are they levels of them over the last five years? If so, where do these items come from? Have levels of these items increased during the last five years?

Have levels of heavy metals in soil, water and air increased over the last five years in NZ?

Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,

J Wilson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #25271 email]

Is [NIWA request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

[https://www.niwa.co.nz/static/niwa-2018-... <https://www.niwa.co.nz/>
Melissa Bray
Communications Lead - Technology & Innovation and Internal Comms

+64-9-375-7135

National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA)
41 Market Place, Viaduct Harbour Auckland New Zealand
Connect with NIWA: niwa.co.nz<https://www.niwa.co.nz/> Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/nzniwa> LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/niwa> Twitter<https://twitter.com/niwa_nz> Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/niwa_science> YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ-j3ML...>
To ensure compliance with legal requirements and to maintain cyber security standards, NIWA's IT systems are subject to ongoing monitoring, activity logging and auditing. This monitoring and auditing service may be provided by third parties. Such third parties can access information transmitted to, processed by and stored on NIWA's IT systems.
Note: This email is intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is confidential or subject to legal professional privilege. If you receive this email in error please immediately notify the sender and delete the email.

hide quoted sections

Kia ora J Wilson

I refer to your OIA request dated 21 December 2023 for information on levels of chemicals, heavy metals and other in New Zealand water, soil and air. We have extracted questions from your request and we respond as follows.

1. a. What chemicals and metals can be found in New Zealand water - in reservoirs, lakes, streams, rivers, the sea?

NIWA does not maintain such records. Regional councils are required by the Environmental Reporting Act 2015 to monitor chemicals and metals in New Zealand water. Regional Council data is collected and summarised here: https://www.lawa.org.nz/ The original data can be downloaded from LAWA.

b. What are their levels in the past five years?

N/A.

c. Do different bodies of water in New Zealand have different levels of metals and chemicals? Please can you detail regional differences.

See above. Note that the Ministry for the Environment reports on the state of the environment for each domain, including comparisons of water quality.

d. Are there any micro-plastics or nanoparticles found in the water?

N/A.

e. If so what are they and what are their levels over the past five years?

N/A.

f. And if so, where do these items come from?

N/A.

2. a. What chemicals and metals can be found in New Zealand soil?
b. What are their levels in the past five years?
c. Do different bodies soil in New Zealand have different levels of metals and chemicals? Please can you detail regional differences.
d. Are there any micro-plastics or nanoparticles found in the soil?
e. If so what are they and what are their levels over the past five years?
f. And if so, where do these items come from?

We have transferred this part of your request to Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, as advised to you on 15 January 2024. This information is more closely connected with the functions of Manaaki Whenua.

3. a. What chemicals and metals can be found in New Zealand air?

NIWA does not maintain such records.

b. What are their levels in the past five years?

N/A

c. Are there any micro-plastics or nanoparticles found in the air?

N/A.

d. If so what are they and what are their levels over the past five years?

N/A

e. And if so, where do these items come from?

N/A.

Please note, under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.

Kind regards,
Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: Melissa Bray
Sent: Monday, January 8, 2024 2:08 PM
To: [FOI #25271 email]
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Levels of chemicals, heavy metals and other in New Zealand water, soil and air

Kia ora J Wilson,

Thank you for your email. We acknowledge receipt of your OIA request below.

We will respond as soon as possible and no later than 12 February 2024, being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

Ngā mihi,
Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: Enquiries <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, January 8, 2024 1:56 PM
To: Melissa Bray <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Levels of chemicals, heavy metals and other in New Zealand water, soil and air

-----Original Message-----
From: J Wilson <[FOI #25271 email]>
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2023 12:50 PM
To: Enquiries <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Levels of chemicals, heavy metals and other in New Zealand water, soil and air

Dear National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited,

Please can you tell me what chemicals and metals can be found in New Zealand water -- in reservoirs, lakes, streams, rivers, the sea -- and in NZ soil and air. Please detail the chemicals and metals found in New Zealand water, soil or other surfaces and air over the last five years.

Are there metals or heavy metals in the water of any type or location, and in the soil and air, such as copper, mercury, lead, cadmium, aluminium, barium, iron, strontium, graphene, or any others? What are the levels of these or other metals in the water, soil and air? Do different bodies of water and areas of soil in New Zealand have different levels of metals and chemicals? Please can you detail regional differences.

Are there any micro-plastics or nanoparticles found in the water of any type, soil and air, and if so, what are they, and what are they levels of them over the last five years? If so, where do these items come from? Have levels of these items increased during the last five years?

Have levels of heavy metals in soil, water and air increased over the last five years in NZ?

Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,

J Wilson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #25271 email]

Is [NIWA request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

[https://www.niwa.co.nz/static/niwa-2018-... <https://www.niwa.co.nz/>
Melissa Bray
Communications Lead - Technology & Innovation and Internal Comms

+64-9-375-7135

National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA)
41 Market Place, Viaduct Harbour Auckland New Zealand
Connect with NIWA: niwa.co.nz<https://www.niwa.co.nz/> Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/nzniwa> LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/niwa> Twitter<https://twitter.com/niwa_nz> Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/niwa_science> YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ-j3ML...>
To ensure compliance with legal requirements and to maintain cyber security standards, NIWA's IT systems are subject to ongoing monitoring, activity logging and auditing. This monitoring and auditing service may be provided by third parties. Such third parties can access information transmitted to, processed by and stored on NIWA's IT systems.
Note: This email is intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is confidential or subject to legal professional privilege. If you receive this email in error please immediately notify the sender and delete the email.

hide quoted sections

Dear J Wilson,

 

Please find attached our response to your OIA request which was partially
transferred to us by NIWA.

 

Ngā mihi,

Christopher O’Brien
Legal Counsel / Kaitohutohu ā‐Ture 
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research

 

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The views expressed in this email may not be those of Landcare Research
New Zealand Limited. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz

hide quoted sections