In December 2025, the Government released two new bills – the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill – to replace the Resource Management Act.
DairyNZ Chair Tracy Brown said reform was needed, but it needed to be done right.
“We fully support the need for change, but it needs to be practical for farmers and beneficial for the environment,” she says.
“The current act is more than 30 years old, so any new legislation needs to reflect the realities of farming now and set both the sector and wider New Zealand economy up for success into the future.
“Reducing complexity, fewer consents, more consistency, and better recognition of the non-regulatory work farmers are already doing, are things we strongly support.”
However, after reviewing the legislation and talking to farmers there are some significant concerns that need to be looked at.
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The proposed changes to permitted activities make things more onerous for farmers, says Brown.
“We need clear and practical permitted activity rules for low‑impact farming activities like grazing, track maintenance, and stand-off pads.
"We also have concerns about how environmental limits will be set. We want to ensure they are based on environmental outcomes such as ecosystem health which are achievable and effective in a real working catchment.
“The legislation proposes market‑based approaches to allocation and resource‑use levies. These need to be deferred until there is clear evidence they are a suitable and effective approach.”
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DairyNZ says there need to be clear and practical permitted activity rules. |
Brown says it’s encouraging to see the Government taking on the views of the sector and already ruling out any sort of water tax.
“The proposed changes also mean Freshwater Farm Plans would duplicate consent requirements farmers already face. These plans should be the main tool for managing waterway risks on-farm to avoid duplication and be better tailored to farms individual needs.
“We will continue working with the Government and our sector partners to ensure any reform is effective, workable and enduring.”
