The Initiative

The National Environmental Data Centre (NEDC) provides easy access to important national environmental data for science, government, local bodies, industry, business, iwi/Māori, and the public of Aotearoa New Zealand. With new high-performance computing, data storage and analytics capability, this data provides new insights to areas such as sustainable use of natural resources, land use decision making, environmental management and reporting, resilience to natural hazards, and conservation.​​

NEDC is a collaborative Crown Research Institute (CRI) initiative, integrating CRI data in a networked national environmental research data infrastructure. This network will enable the integration with existing data and models, producing data and information products and services that enhance Aotearoa New Zealand's research capability and environmental decision making.

​The integrated nature of NEDC greatly enhances the potential for this information to address Aotearoa's most pressing challenges and provide improved environmental knowledge and insight.

 

The Team

Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) have an important role in the kaitiakitanga of environment and natural resource data. What is a CRI?

The CRIs and Callaghan Innovation are the largest dedicated providers of science research in New Zealand. CRIs undertake applied science and technology research and development in core areas for Aotearoa.

On behalf of research, government agencies, local bodies, iwi/Māori and business, CRIs have provided a long-standing stewardship role for important environmental and natural resource scientific data that supports decision-making.

We envisage that NEDC will support and drive a range of existing challenges and initiatives:

• • Climate change research, mitigation, and adaptation
  • Leverage and support existing CRI global data connections
  • Drive standards conversion by encouraging people with data to link it to the framework and encouraging developers to make tools from data services
  • Support Vision Matauranga by delivering benefits to iwi and rohe, while respecting kaitiakitanga and empowering Māori incorporations and tangata whenua
  • Support for application development by scientists
  • Support IoT and satellite data and be Big Data ready
  • Potential to support citizen science

 

The Crown Research Institutes (CRIs)

	​ GNS Science's purpose is to deliver research that drives growth in New Zealand's geologically based energy and minerals industries, and to improve understanding of geological processes and hazards.			Scion's purpose is to drive growth from New Zealand's forestry, wood products, wood-derived materials, and other biomaterials.
	​ Plant & Food Research's purpose is to enhance the value and productivity of New Zealand's horticultural, arable, seafood and food and beverage industries that contribute to economic growth and the environmental and social prosperity of New Zealand.			​ESR's purpose is to deliver scientific and research services to the public health, food safety, security and justice systems, and the environmental sector.
	NIWA's purpose is to enhance the value and management of New Zealand's aquatic resources and environments, and to improve understanding and prediction of climate and weather hazards.			Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research's purpose is to drive innovation in New Zealand's management of terrestrial biodiversity and land resources, in order to both protect and enhance the terrestrial environment.
	​ AgResearch’s purpose is to enhance the value, productivity and profitability of New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sector value chains to contribute to economic growth and beneficial environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand.