Towards implementation of robust monitoring technologies alongside freshwater improvement policy in NZ

International studies point out that some freshwater policy objectives are not achieved. This study describes that this is in part caused by shortcomings that include: the lack of targeted monitoring schemes to measure impact; a too-small range of specific technologies; a too tight focus on sub-sets of stakeholders instead of the involvement of the wider range of end-users; and poor trust-building and technology explanations to end-users. In this study we aim to better understand what is needed for successful integration of innovative monitoring technologies in a transitional environmental policy setting, using recent New Zealand policy directives as a case study. We found change in the practice of environmental monitoring is limited by the development of defensible and accepted guidelines on the application and effective deployment of existing sensors and methods. We propose a new decision support and communication tool to enable the selection of monitoring technologies and solutions fit-for-purpose to evaluate freshwater improvement outcomes on multiple scales involving multiple stakeholders.