Projects
Freshwater Policy Evaluation: Understanding the Barriers and Enablers of Effective Assessment
%20(1).png)
Purpose
Aotearoa New Zealand is putting significant effort into improving freshwater outcomes. But are our policies working? This report explores the often-overlooked question of policy effectiveness. It draws on published reports, case studies, and practical frameworks to identify the barriers and enablers to robust freshwater policy evaluation, with a focus on transparency, trust, and better use of science in decision-making.
This work was funded by the New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society | Ngā Kohinga Wai o Aotearoa Contestable Fund and led by Cobble Consulting, with input from practitioners across science, policy and local government.
Key findings
-
Freshwater evaluation matters: We need to know what’s working to make better decisions. This report helps illuminate how.
-
Barriers and enablers: The report identifies practical barriers and enablers, drawing on real-world examples.
-
Call to action: Decision-makers, scientists, and evaluators can all play a role in improving transparency and performance in freshwater management.
What people are saying about the report
“Thanks again for this report Jennifer and great webinar last week, it was really engaging and insightful – a lot of what you presented really resonated with experiences I have had in this space. You articulated the challenges, opportunities and needs really well.”
- Fiona Curran-Cournane
Links
-
Download the Full Report [PDF, 996 KB]
-
Download the Infographic [PDF, 204 KB]
-
Read the Media Release [PDF, 63 KB]
Citation
Price, J. (2025). Freshwater Policy Evaluation: Understanding the Barriers and Enablers of Effective Assessment. Report by Cobble Consulting for the New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society | Ngā Kohinga Wai o Aotearoa.
Contact
For enquiries, please contact Jen Price: jennifer.price@cobble.co.nz
Interactive Workshop:
Strategies for working at the science-policy interface
What this workshop is about
Working at the science-policy interface is difficult! Politicians and other decision-makers all want to “get it right” and achieve better outcomes for communities but have different opinions on the best way to do that.
This workshop is about equipping participants with strategies to get their messages across, helping them to participate as effectively as possible and influence better outcomes.
What we’ll cover
In this interactive workshop, you’ll get a chance to learn about and work through some common challenges of working at the science-policy interface, such as:
-
the timing of science and information input into policy and planning processes
-
how science and information can fit into policy structures,
-
how to handle uncertainty, and
-
how to increase your impact.
Feedback from participants
-
"Really valuable insights and discussion."
-
"Great session"
Tailored to your organisation's needs
This workshop is for anyone interested in making interactions between science and policy easier, clearer, and more effective.
This workshop can be tailored to focus on central or local government policy processes.
Available online or in-person
This workshop can be run online or in-person throughout New Zealand.
Get in touch
If you're interested in helping your teams develop skills and tools to work more effectively at the science-policy interface, please contact me at: jennifer.price@cobble.co.nz