River Authority urges caution over Plan Change 1 rethink

Tuesday, 28 July 2026

The Waikato River Authority says farmers are not the only group concerned about the implementation of Plan Change 1.

The Waikato River Authority (WRA) has urged the Government not to weaken the environmental outcomes of Plan Change 1 (PC1) as ministers consider intervening to ease the burden on farmers.

The call comes after Infrastructure and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop last week signalled the Government may amend the contentious plan, saying it made little sense for farmers to spend time and money implementing PC1 while New Zealand's planning system was undergoing wholesale reform.

The authority said it supported practical implementation of PC1, but warned any changes must not come at the expense of the long-term water quality improvements the Environment Court has ruled are necessary to restore and protect the Waikato and Waipā rivers.

Waikato River Authority co-chairperson Stu Kneebone says the authority can’t keep ‘kicking the can down the road’ when it came to restoring the river’s health.

The Environment Court confirmed PC1 on June 8, describing it as the 'essential first step' towards achieving Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato - the Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River established through treaty settlement legislation.

The court also found delays risked further degradation of the river system.

WRA co-chairperson Stu Kneebone said the authority understood why many farmers were concerned about the cost and complexity of complying with the plan.

Waikato River Authority co-chairperson Danny Loughlin said it’s not just farmers who have a stake in protecting the Waikato and Waipā rivers.

'At the same time, we can't keep kicking the can down the road and making Plan Change 1 the next generation's problem.

“We all have a responsibility to begin its implementation now so we leave the awa in a healthier state, not a more degraded one.'

Kneebone said the authority was not seeking to revisit the technical detail of PC1, but wanted to ensure any solution developed by the Government continued to give effect to Te Ture Whaimana.

Federated Farmers Waikato president Chris Woolerton has previously described PC1’s framework as ‘completely unworkable’.

'Te Ture Whaimana was agreed by Crown and iwi through treaty settlement legislation.

“It sits above any single plan change, and doesn't change regardless of how PC1's implementation is worked through.

'Any intervention needs to keep faith with that commitment, and with the water quality outcomes the court has confirmed are necessary.'

Bishop's comments followed a large Federated Farmers meeting at Mystery Creek earlier this month, where hundreds of farmers raised concerns about the cost, complexity, and practicality of the rules.

Federated Farmers Waikato president Chris Woolerton previously described PC1’s framework as 'completely unworkable', and welcomed the Government's possible intervention, while saying farmers wanted to see concrete action rather than promises.

The authority said Federated Farmers' position did not necessarily reflect the views of every landowner in the catchment.

Co-chairperson Danny Loughlin said the authority had worked alongside farmers for 15 years through its clean-up fund, investing $80 million across about 500 projects to improve waterways.

'Federated Farmers represents its members, and that's a legitimate voice at the table, but it doesn't speak for every farmer in this catchment,' Loughlin said.

'A lot of farmers are already doing this work, some well ahead of what PC1 will require.'

Loughlin said the authority did not want to see the plan's environmental outcomes watered down.

He said the Environment Court decision found nitrogen trends had worsened in all Waikato River tributaries between Taupō and Karāpiro between 1990 and 2020 - the same period that saw the greatest pastoral intensification.

He also urged the Government to ensure any response reflected the interests of the wider community, not just the farming sector.

'This isn't a two-way conversation between government and farmers, it's a catchment-wide one.

'Iwi, communities, industry and councils all have a stake in how this is resolved, and all have a role to play in restoring the health of the awa.“

Loughlin said the authority supported a practical and durable solution, provided it did not undermine the long-term restoration of the Waikato and Waipā rivers.