Marlborough District Council has released its State of the Environment Report for 2016 to 2025, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the region’s unique environment and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The report highlights trends over the last 10 years, including stable or improving river and groundwater quality; nationally recognised freshwater improvement projects such as Te Hoiere; large-scale restoration efforts; significant gains in protected areas through Significant Natural Areas and Ecologically Significant Marine Sites; and improvements in compliance. Improved monitoring technology and better access to environmental data are enabling more informed decisions about the region’s future.
However, the report also identifies key challenges. Climate change is amplifying environmental, natural hazard and infrastructure risks; biodiversity decline remains a significant concern; and pressures on freshwater availability and biosecurity persist. Sediment continues to impact sensitive areas such as Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere. Ongoing national resource management reforms are also creating planning uncertainty.
Mayor Nadine Taylor thanked Council staff for their dedication and expertise in producing the report, acknowledging the significant effort involved in gathering, analysing and presenting the environmental information that underpins Marlborough’s future planning.
“Our environment is at the heart of Marlborough’s identity and livelihood. State of the Environment monitoring is a vital resource for our community, mana whenua, industry and all those who care about Marlborough’s future. It provides the evidence we need to plan, adapt, and work together on solutions.”
Barbara Faulls, Chair of Council’s Environment and Planning Committee, said the report reflects the hard work of Council, iwi, other partners, and the community over the past decade and wouldn’t be possible without extensive monitoring and analysis in specific areas.
“This report not only celebrates the progress we’ve made through collaboration and innovation but also highlights where we need to focus our collective efforts. By working together - Council, iwi, landowners, industry, and community - we can address challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and improving water quality. The evidence in this report empowers us to make informed choices for the benefit of future generations.”
The report will guide Council’s future planning, including biodiversity strategies, environmental monitoring and recommendations for the 2027–2037 Long Term Plan. Residents, landowners, community groups and stakeholders are encouraged to read the report and use its findings to support local action.
The full State of the Environment Report is now available on the Council's website.
Many of the report’s scorecards, reports and special research investigations can also be found on Council’s website.
Summarised details:
Key achievements
- Significant increase in monitored biodiversity sites, including 70 new ecologically significant marine sites and subsites, and over 1,300 mapped wetlands.
- Large-scale habitat protection and restoration: more than 138,000 hectares now covered by terrestrial significant natural areas programme, with 76% of actively funded and managed sites improving.
- Major estuary, kelp and wetland restoration projects established.
- Advanced environmental monitoring, including pioneering eDNA sampling revealing nearly 3,000 freshwater species.
- Catchment Care programmes have achieved extensive native planting and riparian fencing and led to improved water quality in some catchments.
- Marlborough now has a substantial and comprehensive freshwater monitoring network, with most monitored rivers and groundwater showing stable or improving trends.
- Aquaculture continues to thrive, and healthy coastal water quality has been observed at most monitored sites.
- Improved compliance observed across dairy, winery and forestry activities.
- Stronger climate data, hazard mapping, and resilience planning support decision-making and adaptation.
Key pressures
- Ongoing biodiversity decline due to pests, habitat loss and environmental pressures.
- Sedimentation impacting estuaries and coastal habitats, particularly in Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere Sound.
- Invasive species such as wilding conifers, Mediterranean fanworm and wild ungulates (like goats and deer) continue to threaten ecosystems.
- Climate change is amplifying future risks: rising temperatures, floods, wildfire and drought risk, and sea-level rise.
- The inland Wairau Aquifer level has dropped by about one metre since the early 1970s, reflecting both human and natural activities, such as river control works and reduced gravel supply.
- Increased frequency and severity of natural hazards, including floods, landslides and earthquakes.
- Ageing infrastructure and the high cost of recovery and maintenance following major weather and seismic events.
- Freshwater availability remains a critical risk for Marlborough, now and in the future, given the community’s reliance on the region’s freshwater resources.
