Jim Sinner

Senior Scientist – Policy and Planning

Qualifications

MSc (Agriculture and Resource Economics). Cornell University, 1986
BA. Harvard University, 1981

Role at Cawthron

Jim Sinner is a Senior Scientist in the Coastal and Freshwater Group at Cawthron, and Science Leader for Social Science. Jim's main areas of work are freshwater and coastal management and marine biosecurity, and he has also worked on climate change, trade policy and fisheries management. For a 6-year research project on Values, Monitoring and Outcomes, Jim and his co-researchers are exploring how "value" is perceived, constructed and negotiated in freshwater management, including through collaborative processes.

Technical skills, experience and interests

Water management
Marine biosecurity
Leadership of research projects on sustainable development concepts and principles, focusing on collaborative governance and market-based instruments

Professional affiliations

Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society
New Zealand Association of Resource Management

Conference papers and presentations

Sinner J et al 2017. Policy Brief no. 20 – Riding the wave of change: Reflections on the evolution of freshwater management in New Zealand

Sinner J 2017. Composing a story about Connection to Water – Concluding comments at workshop with the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committee

Sinner J 2016. Freshwater Management in New Zealand: The world we thought we knew. Freshwater Management: Second National Symposium Wellington, 5 September 2016

Sinner J, Scherzer J 2007. The public interest in resource rent. Connections 2007. http://www.agrifood.info/connections/

Watch Jim's presentation at Otago Regional Council's Water Quality Workshop 2017

View Jim's ResearchGate profile

Publication links

View more publications

Tremblay LA, Clark D, Sinner J and Ellis JI 2017. Integration of community structure data reveals observable effects below sediment guideline thresholds in a large estuary. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts.

Cradock-Henry NA, Greenhalgh S, Brown P and Sinner J 2017. Factors influencing successful collaboration for freshwater management in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Tadaki M, Sinner J and Chan KMA 2017. Making sense of environmental values: a typology of concepts. Ecology and Society. Volume 22, Issue 1. Page 7.

Sinner J 2016. Equity considerations in freshwater management. Prepared for Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committee. 12 pages.

Sinner J, Newton MJ and Brown P 2016. Community perceptions of collaborative freshwater planning in three New Zealand regions. Funded by Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment’s Science and Innovation Group. 33 pages plus appendix.

Clark D, Goodwin E, Sinner J, Ellis J and Singh G 2016. Validation and limitations of a cumulative impact model for an estuary. Ocean & Coastal Management. Volume 120. Pages 88-98.

Ellis JI, Hewitt JE, Clark D, Taiapa C, Patterson M, Sinner J, Hardy D and Thrush SF 2015. Assessing ecological community health in coastal estuarine systems impacted by multiple stressors. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Volume 473. Pages 176-187.

Sinner J, Newton MJ and Duncan R 2015. Representation and legitimacy in collaborative freshwater planning: Stakeholder perspectives on a Canterbury Zone Committee. Cawthron Report 2787. Prepared for Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Newcombe EM, Sciascia P, Heasman KG , Spinks A, Poutama M, Smith H and Sinner J 2015. Towards revitalisation of toheroa in the Horowhenua. Prepared for Taiao Raukawa and Manaaki Taha Moana. 35 pages.

Taylor DI, Doehring KAM, Sinner J and Smith H 2015. Ōhau Loop Phase 2: Enhancing knowledge of inanga habitat. Prepared for Taiao Raukawa and Manaaki Taha Moana. 19 pages.

Sinner J and Harmsworth G 2015. Māori and collaborative freshwater planning: emerging insights. Prepared for the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. 16 pages.

Sinner J, Samarasinge O and Newton MJ 2014. Tools for working with freshwater values. Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment. 79 pages.

Newcombe EM, Poutama M, Allen C, Smith H, Clark D, Atalah J, Spinks A, Ellis J and Sinner J 2014. Kaimoana on beaches from Hokio to Otaki, Horowhenua. Prepared for Taiao Raukawa and Manaaki Taha Moana. 40 pages plus appendices.

Newcombe EM, Smith H, Poutama M, Clark D, Spinks A, Ellis J and Sinner J 2014. Faecal contamination of shellfish on the Horowhenua coast. Prepared for Taiao Raukawa and Manaaki Taha Moana. 15 pages.

Sinner J, Greenhalgh S, Berkett N and Sharp T 2014. Structured decision making for collaborative planning. Landcare Research Policy Brief 9. Lincoln, New Zealand.

Sinner J and Berkett N 2014. Collaborative planning for freshwater: The challenge of a new paradigm.

Tadaki M and Sinner J 2014. Measure, model, optimise: Understanding reductionist concepts of value in freshwater governance. Geoforum 51: 140-151.

Sinner J, Forrest BM, Newton MJ, Hopkins GA, Inglis G, Woods C and Morrisey D 2013. Managing the domestic spread of harmful marine organisms. Part B: Statutory framework and analysis of options. Cawthron Report 2442. Prepared for Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Preparedness and Partnerships Directorate. 72 pages plus appendix.

Berkett N and Sinner J 2013. Collaborative processes and the roles of council. Cawthron Report 2424. Prepared for Landcare Research and the Freshwater Values, Monitoring and Outcomes Programme C09X1003, funded by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment's Science and Innovation Group.

Berkett N, Challenger I, Sinner J and Tadaki M 2013. Values, collaborative processes and indicators for freshwater planning. Cawthron Report 2353. Prepared for Auckland Council: National Policy Statement Freshwater Management Implementation Programme.

Ellis J, Clark D, Sinner J, Asher R, Gower FJ and others 2013. Ecological Survey of Tauranga Harbour. Cawthron Report 2321. Prepared for Manaaki Taha Moana, Manaaki Taha Moana Research Report 13. 56 pages plus appendices.

Sinner J and Tadaki M 2013. Structuring freshwater values: Meaning and conflict in a regional plan. Cawthron Report 2282.

Sinner J, Berkett N, Forrest BM and Hopkins GA 2012. Harmful aquatic organisms - Recommendations for the Auckland unitary plan. Cawthron Report 2232. Prepared for Auckland Council. 71 pages plus appendices.

Sinner J, Clark D, Ellis J, Roberts B, Jiang W, Goodwin E, Hale L, Rolleston S, Patterson M, Hardy D, Prouse E and Brown S 2011. Health of Te Awanui Tauranga harbour. Cawthron Report 1969. Manaaki Taha Moana Research Report 1. 129 pages.

Batstone CJ and Sinner J 2010. Techniques for evaluating community preferences for managing coastal ecosystems. Auckland Regional Council Technical Report 2010/012.

Sinner J, Forrest BM, Piola R and Roberts B 2009. Fiordland marine biosecurity risk management plan: Operational plan recommendations 2009/10 - 2013/14 .

Fenemor A, Deans N, Davie T, Allen W, Dymond J, Kilvington M, Phillips C, Basher L, Gillespie PA, Young RG, Sinner J, Harmsworth G, Atkinson M and Smith R 2008. Collaboration and modelling - Tools for integration in the Motueka catchment, New Zealand. Water Sa 34(4): 448-455 .

Forrest BM, Taylor MD and Sinner J 2006. Setting priorities for the management of marine pests using a risk-based decision support framework. Biological Invasions in New Zealand 186: 389-405.

Sinner J 2005. Key concepts in sustainable development part I: economics and ecology. Public Sector. Vol 28: 3, pages 1-9.

+64 3 548 2319 ext 208
jim.sinner@cawthron.org.nz