Editorial: Getting RMA settings right
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
OPINION: Finally there's clarity for farmers around freshwater management regulations.
This coalition Government was voted in by farmers in part to either stop or repeal a raft of unworkable regulations imposed by the previous Labour government. But legislative changes haven't been coming fast enough for many farmers.
For months now, regional councils have been facing a dilemma, whether to continue notifying freshwater plans in their respective districts as required by law under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (the NPS-FM) or wait for the current Government to repeal the law.
Farmers accused some councils of stubbornly ploughing ahead with plans to implement expensive, excessive and impractical new rules for farmers. If councils pass these new rules, they will effectively lock in unobtainable freshwater bottom lines and NPS-FM requirements.
Federated Farmers say that would result in Labour's NPS-FM being here to stay, despite the Labour government being voted out.
If that happens, all the new Government's efforts to make freshwater regulations more practical, affordable or workable will make absolutely no difference behind the farm gate.
Federated Farmers has been incredibly vocal in calling for the Government to stop councils notifying these new rules.
Last week the Government finally acted. It's moving an amendment to the Resource Management Act Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, which will restrict councils' ability to notify freshwater plans before the gazettal of the replacement NPS-FM.
Farmers are hailing the Government's move as a win for both them and common sense. The move could have come sooner. However, farmers up and down the country will be breathing a deep sigh of relief - better late than never.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
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