Issues Currently Under Action

DairyNZ's Policy and Advocacy team is focussed on working to deliver distinct value to all farmers through ensuring legislative, policy, investment and regulatory outcomes which protect and enhance the profitability, sustainability and competitiveness of dairy farming in New Zealand.

The following issues are currently under action by the DairyNZ Policy and Advocacy team:

National Animal Identification and Traceability (NAIT):

DairyNZ is working with the Crown and other industry partners (including DCANZ, Meat and Wool NZ and the Meat Industry Association) to develop a comprehensive national animal identification scheme for the New Zealand livestock sector. DairyNZ's objective within this project is to ensure NAIT is a lowest cost, comprehensive animal identification and traceability scheme that includes all at-risk species. We believe this is most likely to come from a system that is owned and operated by industry, for industry. DairyNZ is also ensuring that NAIT links to other dairy industry data initiatives to enhance farmer profitability, sustainability and competitiveness.

Submission on the National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill (February 2011)
View PDF (290kb)
Submission on the NAIT Scheme Cost Recovery Proposal (November 2011)
View PDF (292kb)
See also National Animal Identification and Traceability (NAIT)

TB control and the Animal Health Board:

Dairy farmers have made a massive investment in Tb control over the past decade and the Bovine Tuberculosis National Pest Management Strategy remains the single largest investment DairyNZ makes on behalf of farmers. We are heavily engaged in the official review of the strategy currently underway, advocating that the AHB should continue to drive for lower Tb incidence through containment and testing the viability of eradication programmes, while at the same time striving for greater innovation, efficiency and cost reduction in all parts of its operations.

Submission on the Bovine Tuberculosis National Pest Management Strategy Amendment Proposal View PDF (220kb)

Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS):

During the debate on the ETS DairyNZ advocated strongly with Government Ministers, Members of Parliament and officials to ensure that dairy farmers did not become liable for emissions before science had developed proven, cost-effective mitigation tools. Now with the revised ETS has passed into law, DairyNZ is working with government officials and other pastoral sector organisations on the regulations that will describe how the ETS is implemented are developed. The focus is on ensuring regulations so the ETS can be implemented in a manner which is least-onerous, and most practical for dairy farmers.

Emissions Trading Scheme Review Submission (6 April 2011) View PDF (393kb)
Submission on New Zealand's 2050 Emissions Target for Greenhouse Gases (February 2011) View PDF (295kb)
Initial submission to the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Select Committee (February 2009) View PDF (36kb)
Supplementary submission to the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Select Committee (May 2009)
View PDF (107kb)
Submission to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee on the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill (October 2009)
View PDF (92kb)
2020 Emissions Target Submission
View PDF (91kb)

Effluent compliance and nutrient management:

DairyNZ has policy representation on working groups with Horizons, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Canterbury Regional Councils. The primary aim of these working groups is to improve effluent compliance and to investigate policy and on-farm options for managing nutrients on farm. These proactive relationships with councils ensures that farmers' views are heard early in the policy process and DairyNZ's extension expertise is fed through into council policy-making.

See also Effluent Systems and Nutrient Management

Farm Dairy Effluent Design Code of Practice and Standards:

The Farm Dairy Effluent Code and Standards provides best practice advice on the design of farm dairy effluent systems. DairyNZ policy staff have ensured that farmers' views have been heard by facilitating a process for making submissions on the draft documents and recommending appropriate changes.

Land and Water Forum:

DairyNZ is a member of the Land and Water Forum, established by the Government to work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders to develop new freshwater policy options for New Zealand. Key issues for the dairy industry that are being considered by LAWF include the use of Good Management Practice by farmers to improve water quality, a better water allocation regime, the use of standards to create certainty on water quality targets, opportunities for new water storage and infrastructure projects and a strategic approach to water governance that recognises the importance of economic, environmental, social and cultural values.

Report of the Land and Water Forum: A Fresh Start for Freshwater View PDF (1.4mb)

Animal Status Declaration (ASD):

MAF periodically asks for feedback on policy issues affecting the primary sector. It recently sought submissions from interested parties on proposed amendments to the Animal Status Declaration (ASD) form. The ASD is a mandated form under the Animal Products Act 1999. DairyNZ’s submission on the proposed changes can be found attached. For further information about the proposed changes, visit the MAF/NZFSA website http://www.foodsafety.govt.nz/elibrary/industry/draft-animal-status-declaration/index.htm .

Submission on MAF on changes to ASD form (March 2012) View PDF (627kb)

Compliance Toolkit: www.compliancetoolkit.co.nz

This resource helps farmers decide whether they require a resource consent or not for a number of farming activities. The policy team have been involved in interpreting council plans to provide a simple online step-by-step guide as an alternative to having to ring the council or read the relevant plan.