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.

Mahinga kai
food and places for obtaining natural foods and resources. The work (mahi), methods and cultural activities involved in obtaining foods and resources.
Mana whenua
traditional/customary authority or title over land and the rights of ownership and control of usage on the land, forests, rivers etc. Also the land area (and boundaries—rohe) within which such authority is held.
Māori
people—distinguishes the native, indigenous people of New Zealand.
Margin
land immediately adjacent to the bed of a river, wetland, lake or estuary which is likely to be affected by a high water table, flooding, fluvial erosion, or sediment deposition, and often contains distinctive vegetation. The size of the margin will vary according to local site factors but may extend to the limits demarcated by natural river terraces and constructed stopbanks.
Mauri
life force.
Metro
the public transport service that operates in Greater Christchurch and Timaru. Environment Canterbury (Canterbury Regional Council) is the lead agency for providing services. We are responsible for planning services, tendering out to independent operators, and providing information such as timetables, telephone services, websites and marketing Metro.
m
metre(s)
m
million
m
month(s)
MApplSci
Master of Applied Science
Mar
March
MAR
Managed Aquifer Recharge
MAV
Maximum Acceptable Value
MB
megabyte(s)
MBIE
Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment
MCDEM
Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management
mcm
million cubic metres
MCPA
2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid
MED
Ministry of Economic Development
MELAA
Middle Eastern, Latin American and African
MEP
Management and Enhancement Plan
MfE
Ministry for the Environment
mg
milligram(s)
MGM
Matrix of Good Management
MHBr
Main Highway Bridge
MIC
Mackenzie Irrigation Company
mini
miniature
MJ
Mega Joule
ml
millilitre(s)
MM
Modified Mercalli
mm
millimetre(s)
MNL
Main North Line
Mob
Mobile phone number
MoH
Ministry of Health
MP
Measuring Point
MP
Member of Parliament
MPI
Ministry for Primary Industries
MRNAG
Mid River New Applications Group
MRTEs
Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates
MSc
Master of Science degree
Mt
Mount
MTAGDP
Modelled Territorial Authority Gross Domestic Product
MTB
mountain bicycle
MW
Megawatt(s)
MWRL
Mackenzie Water Research Limited