ESR provides science advice and services to government agencies, local authorities and the private sector.
We are:
- principal science advisor to the Ministry of Health
- sole provider of forensic services to the New Zealand Police
- science provider to the Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Customs, Medsafe and Department of Corrections
- science advisor for local authorities, industry organisations, and the private sector
Core science programmes:
forensic science | environmental and public health
ESR, the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, is a government owned New Zealand Crown Research Institute. Our mission is to protect people and their environments through science - Manaaki tangata taiao hoki.
ESR advises careful use of greywater as water restrictions continue
As our current water restrictions look set to continue across most of the country, more people are turning to innovative water conservation measures. Using household water from showers, baths and laundry (greywater) on your garden is a great way of conserving water, and is commonly practiced in drought prone countries such as Australia.
However research carried out both overseas and at the Centre for Integrated Biowaste Research (CIBR) here in New Zealand has shown that greywater can contain bacteria and viruses. These organisms have the potential to make you ill, so greywater should be used carefully. Read more...