Government's New Planning System, PC1 'Won't Mesh Together Well'

Minister for Resource Management Chris Bishop told a farmer meeting in Waikato today the Government was “thinking very deeply and carefully about what we do about that problem”.

About 350 farmers attended the meeting at Mystery Creek, organised by Federated Farmers.

PC1 was first notified in 2016 and was appealed to the Environment Court with its decision released on June 8.

The court directed the Waikato Regional Council to make 20 changes to PC1, giving it until July 21 to do so. Once the court confirms the amendments meet its intent, the plan will be finalised.

But Waikato farmers say it makes little sense to continue with PC1 while the Government is reforming the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Some farmers at the meeting called for a pause in the rollout of PC1.

Bishop didn’t rule out Government pausing PC1, but he reminded farmers that there was a Cabinet process to go through.

Speaking alongside Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, he reminded farmers that they were just two members of the Cabinet.

“We've got to act collectively as a cabinet,” he says.

“But I want to assure you that I'm leaving you with one message, which is that we get the problem of the new planning system starting, or at least rolling out, at the same time as PC1, at least in theory.

“And two aren't going to mesh together particularly well.”

Bishop says he understands the anxiety among Waikato farmers – who face the prospect of operating under PC1 until the RMA replacement legislation comes into effect.

Bishop says such a situation would be ridiculous.

“That would be completely contrary to what we're trying to establish as a government, which is less retake, less deprecation of effort, a more permissive environment and a more proportionate consenting and rules in the system.

“So, we're thinking about that very carefully right now, we can't get ourselves into a situation where PC1 rolls out at the same time as the new planning system starts.

“That would seem to me to be something that would be a regressive and retrograde option for you.”