Federated Farmers call for Plan Change 1 pause amid government and policy reforms
Sunday, 21 June 2026
“Huge compliance requirements” in a controversial plan to improve Waikato water quality are out of step with looming national changes and it should be put on hold, the Feds say.
Federated Farmers wants the Government to hit pause on Plan Change 1, or PC1 for short, until major local government and RMA reforms have been completed, saying they’ll change the landscape.
“Why roll out new farming rules that are about to be replaced?” Waikato Federated Farmers president Chris Woolerton said. “When the RMA goes, PC1 will go with it.”
He says PC1 is the most significant rule change ever seen by farmers in the Waikato.
“These new farming rules are completely at odds with the Government’s direction of travel and vision for the country … On one hand we have a government saying it wants to cut the cost and complexity from farming by overhauling local government and the RMA.
“But on the other hand we’ve got a binding court decision pushing in the opposite direction, bringing in very prescriptive farming rules with huge compliance requirements.”
PC1 has been in the pipeline since 2012 and has been tied up in submissions, hearings and appeals since then, drawing out the process.
Earlier this month, the Environment Court directed Waikato Regional Council to make 20 changes to finalise details of PC1, which will limit what farmers and growers can do on their land within the Waikato and Waipā river catchments.
PC1 is the first step in an 80-year programme designed to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and bacterial contamination entering the rivers, with the long-term goal of restoring water quality, and improving swimming and food gathering opportunities.
It’s won praise from those with an environmental focus, with Waikato River Authority calling it a milestone and Waikato-Tainui saying it keeps the river’s health and wellbeing paramount.
However, Woolerton believed that the rules had taken so long to come through the court system that they were now out of date, and step, with central government and were now poorly timed.
“That’ll create massive confusion for farmers, certifiers and the council alike, while trying to comply with what feel like ever-changing rules.
“That’s why we’re calling for central government to step in and put these rules on ice until the new system is clarified.”
PC1 will affect more than 4500 farmers across the Waikato and Waipā River catchments once it kicks in. It could make it more challenging for farmers to change land use and switch between farming systems.
More than 400 farmers in the Whangamarino Wetland Catchment will also have to obtain a restricted discretionary resource consent simply to continue their existing farming activities.
“There are huge restrictions and compliance requirements being placed on Waikato farmers that will totally change the nature of farming in the region.
“PC1 will add cost, complexity and duplication, with thousands of farmers needing both a resource consent and a gold-plated farm plan just to keep farming,” Woolerton said.
Waikato Federated Farmers meat and wool chair and drystock farmer Reon Verry also had concerns.
“The environment is something I really care about, but these rules will simply see a whole lot of money wasted on compliance costs rather than on-farm action.
“With all the Government’s reforms currently underway, it makes total sense to press pause on implementing these new rules until everyone has more clarity.
“Pausing the new rules doesn’t mean pressing pause on environmental improvements. Farmers are still going to keep getting on with the good work we’re already doing.”
The Waikato Regional Council has until July 21 to make changes to PC1, with the council’s science, policy and information director Tracey May saying “it gives us a stronger foundation for implementation, including the emphasis on practical guidance and support for farmers and growers”.
Appeals of the court’s decision are limited to matters of law, and can only be made to the High Court.