Food production is expected to become more straightforward with changes to the freshwater farm plan system recently passed into law under the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act.
The updated rules shift responsibility for auditing and certifying water plans away from regional councils to approved industry organisations, reducing duplication for farmers already part of assurance programmes such as NZGAP or Fonterra’s Tiaki.
The reform also changes which farms must have freshwater plans.
Sheep, beef, arable, orcharding and viticulture properties will now need a plan only if they are 50ha or larger, up from the previous 20ha threshold.
This removes the requirement completely for around 8000 small, low-risk farms.
The changes are touted as affordable and practical while still protecting the environment.
"These changes are about making farm plans workable and affordable so farmers can get on and farm without unnecessary red tape," Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard said.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay pointed out farmers were already doing a huge amount of work investing in freshwater management.
"Our job is to make sure the rules are practical, efficient and fit for purpose so the sector can continue to lead the world," he said.
The announcement follows news earlier this month that rural and commercial water users would have at least five years before managing changes to their water consents.
Legislation passed last October prevented Regional Councils from notifying freshwater planning measures before the arrival of a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management — or December 31, 2025, whichever came first.
Realising important issues would not be resolved in time, the Otago Regional Council (ORC) worked with the government to provide certainty and avoid further expensive, complicated processes for Otago water users until the new plan arrived.
The legislative amendment overrides some discharge provisions of the existing regional plan and extends the expiry date of most existing short-term water permits for another five years, assuming their expiry date will be after a new plan was in place.
A simplified consent pathway will be available for longer-term permits that may need to be replaced before the new plan arrives.
"Farmers really want to feel secure for the long-term, but there will be relief at the five-year grace period," ORC councillor and Pomahaka Watercare member Lloyd McCall said.
"The hope is during that period, a water-use system with practicable, workable legislation will be developed in consultation with all concerned interests."
Federated Farmers Otago president, beef and dairy farmer Luke Kane, said it was good to see ORC had worked with central government.
"The number of times we have to enter data for different forms of compliance is beyond a joke so I welcome ... one central place and format," he said.
"The plans need to be designed at a farm level by the people running them."
