Farmers say no peace until Plan Change 1 outcome known

Tuesday, 22 April 2025

Phil Weir at his beef and sheep farm on the slopes of Mt Pirongia. He says the Plan Change 1 outcome is the big one for Waikato farmers.

Waikato farmers welcome the Government’s latest moves to “get Wellington out of farming” but say the rubber will hit the road when they hear what’s happening with Plan Change 1.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced plans to improve the freshwater farm plan roll-out, with changes expected by the end of the year.

But Beef and Lamb NZ Northern North Island director Phil Weir said Waikato farmers were “a bit apathetic” because “people are waiting for the [regional council’s] Plan Change 1 outcome”.

“That’ll provide guidance around what councils need to do.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said ‘equivalent’ industry farm plans would be recognised.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced plans are underway to improve the freshwater farm plan roll-out.

“Until that’s known, it’s all a bit of a guessing game.”

In his Wednesday announcement McClay said farmers shouldn’t have to complete multiple plans, and equivalent industry farm plans would be recognised.

He said the the new system will also act as an “alternative to local council rules and consents where appropriate”, letting landowners meet requirements in a way that “suits their farm systems”.

King Country farmer Reon Verry says when Plan Change 1 comes out will be ‘when the rubber hits the road’.

But farmers say Plan Change 1 is “top of the pile” for freshwater regulation.

Waikato Regional Council’s $23 million river protection policy aims to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waipā rivers, bringing in environmental requirements for farmers within the catchments.

It would have required thousands of environmental plans from Waikato farmers of 20 hectares or more, but over 20 legal appeals and technical issues have hindered progress.

Waitomo farmer Reon Verry said farmers expected “an interim decision” in May.

“For a farmer in the PC1 region that’ll be where the rubber meets the road.”

Sheep and beef farmers are waiting to hear the outcome of Plan Change 1.

Waikato farmers say dairy farmers are ahead of the game with industry-required fresh water farm plans, but they’re less common in the sheep and beef industry.

Verry’s own farm, along with about 30 others, sits partly inside, partly outside the area, so he’s waiting to hear.

“Stock exclusion is a part of it for farmers.”

“Different industries are going to be affected differently.”

He said it involved “quite a strict consenting regime”, which was not the way the current government was operating.

He said although the Government was signalling they want less of that “burdensome compliance” and “more action”, “PC1 comes ahead of all that, so it could be a problem”.

Waikato Federated Farmers president Keith Holmes says he looks forward to a ‘national template’ to simplify freshwater farm plans.

Verry already voluntarily follows the guidelines under one of the few, and more strict farm plans for red meat farmers, the NZ Farm Assurance Trust, and said the writing has been on the wall regarding stricter environmental regulations.

“It’s how long have you got to do it”.

Farmers wanted certainty, he said.

“Tell me where to put the fence and we’ll get on with it.”

Federated Farmer provincial president Keith Holmes said the latest announcement indicated farmers would not be “getting locked into multiple farm plans” - “exactly” what they’d asked for.

“We do have a very good constructive dialogue with the Government.”

“Our hope is that the roll-out of the farm plan is realistic.”

The previous administration asking for a plan for farms less than 20 hectares was “administratively ridiculous”.

“Farmers are really busy… they’re not time rich.”

“Let’s make it simple, so if you move from one regional council to another we know what’s required.”

He said farmers were also asking for the farm plan inputs to be digitised and streamlined as much as possible to avoid duplication.