Reading Time: 3 minutes By Gerald Piddock and Neal Wallace The government has signalled it may step in to delay new rules determining what environmental limits Waikato farmers must operate under. Speaking at the Primary Industries New Zealand Summit in Auckland, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones and Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay all expressed their concerns at the impact that the proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 (PC1) could have on the future of farming in the region. Jones
said he feared for the future of farmers if PC1 is implemented. “The level of burden that these new potential rules and regulations place upon landowners, veggie growers, and farmers, I think they are unbearable.” New Zealand First opposes interpretations of Waikato River settlement legislation that undermine food production at a time when we have a cost of food crisis, he said. PC1 would bring in rules to manage nutrient discharges with the goal of improving the Waikato and Waipā rivers. It was first notified
in 2016 and was appealed to the Environment Court with its decision released on June 8. The court directed the Waikato Regional Council to make 20 changes to PC1, giving it until July 21 to do so. Once the court confirms the amendments meet its intent, the plan will be finalised. Jones’s comments echoed those of McClay, who said it does not make sense to have a new national planning system adopted by Parliament before the election but for Waikato to have rules developed under
the old system. “We will instruct officials to provide advice on options to better align rulemaking in the Waikato with the replaced RMA.” McClay said his approach to PC1 is consistent with other councils and that he did not act earlier because it was before the Environment Court. He said he had met with RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop recently to express concerns PC1 would be overtaken by the new legislation. “As agriculture minister it makes no sense for farmers in the rest of the
country to operate under one planning system and farmers in the Waikato to operate under a new direction that will be in place before the election.” McClay said delaying implementation will give the government time to look at its options. This was confirmed by Luxon. Federated Farmers’ Waikato vice-president Andrew Reymer said it was hugely encouraging to hear the politicians acknowledge how serious the issue is. “We’ve repeatedly said that it makes no sense to continue with PC1 while the government is reforming the resource
management system. “We’re grateful to Ministers Jones and McClay for standing up today and assuring Waikato farmers they not only recognise the problem, but that they intend to do something about it.” What a solution from central government would look like is up to them. “We are looking forward to see what they come up with.” He said this is not a green light for farmers to do nothing. “Farmers have been doing heaps over the past 14 years with or without rules.” With the
government currently overhauling local government and the resource management system, he said, PC1 needs to be paused. Waikato Regional Council Waikato CEO Chris McLay said in a statement that PC1 remains a matter before the Environment Court, and council staff are focused on meeting the July deadline. “Our priority is to ensure that implementation is practical, evidence-based, gives effect to the court’s guidance and is undertaken in partnership with industry bodies. “We remain committed to working with all parties, including the primary sector, iwi and
central government, to achieve a balanced and durable outcome for the river and its catchments.” PC1’s implementation is staged over a five-year period to allow time for the council and industry bodies to be able to better support land users, he said. “The adjustments needed will depend on the farm and the associated risks of contaminant loss, with those who have already implemented a range of good management practices generally expected to need fewer adjustments.”
Waikato PC1, Waikato Regional Plan Change 1, Environment Court, Shane Jones, Todd McClay, Christopher Luxon, Waikato Regional Council, nutrient discharges, Waikato and Waipā rivers, RMA reform, Federated Farmers