Glossary

A guide to acronyms (and abbreviations), words and phrases used throughout the Environment Canterbury website. Look in the 'By Subject' tab to find groups of terms relevant to a specific topic.

Some terms might have definitions in addition to those in this glossary.

Use the online Māori Dictionary to help with translating words between Te Reo Māori/English.

Dam
means an artificial barrier, and any connected structures, that: is constructed to hold back water or other fluid under constant pressure so as to form a reservoir; and is used for the storage, control, or diversion of water or other fluid. Includes: a flood control dam; and a natural feature that has been significantly modified to function as a dam; and a canal; but does not include a stopbank designed to control floodwaters.
Defence against water (Land and Water Regional Plan)
Any structure or equipment, including any bund, weir, spillway, floodgate, bank, stopbank, retaining wall, rock or erosion protection structure, groyne, vegetation (including anchored tree protection) or reservoir, that is designed to have the effect of stopping, diverting, controlling, restricting or otherwise regulating the flow, energy or spread of water, including floodwaters, in or out of a water body, artificial watercourse, or artificial lake. For the purpose of this definition, dams are excluded.
D
Dimension(s)(al)
d
day(s)
dBA
A-weighted decibels
DC
District Council
DDE
Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene
DDI
Direct Dial-In phone number
DDT
Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane
Dec
December
demos
demonstrations
Dept
Department
diff.
difference
DIN
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen
Dip
Diploma
DIY
Do It Yourself
DIY
Do It Yourself
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DOC
Department of Conservation
DPMC
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Dr
Doctor
DRP
Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus
DSIR
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
DSP
Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning
DU
Distribution Uniformity
DVD
Digital Video Disc