He waka eke noa

The agriculture sector has committed to building an enduring farm-level emission reduction framework.

This has allowed the sector to have more control over how it prepares for and starts the process of managing emissions.

Work is underway on the Joint Action Plan on Primary Sector Emissions. The work is an important collaboration to reduce New Zealand emissions and to meet our climate change goals.

DairyNZ's member in this steering group is Strategy & Investment Leader Bruce Thorrold. Bruce is charged with analysing the risks and opportunities facing the dairy sector; identifying what the sector needs to know; and helping people decide what action to take in response to those issues.

View the official Ministry for the Environment He Waka Eke Noa website

What is He waka eke noa?

He waka eke noa is a world-first partnershipbetween the farming industry and government, aimed at building a framework to reduce agricultural emissions.

It includes 11 primary sector organisations – including DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb NZ, Federated Farmers and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ).

The Steering Group of He Waka Eka Noa will develop recommendations for the Minister for Climate Change and Agriculture on a farm level system to reduce agricultural methane and nitrous oxide emissions.

This includes a pricing mechanism, building on the principles set out in the 2019 Primary Sector Proposal document titled "He Waka Eka Noa" to support the transition to farm-level pricing from 2025.

What has been committed to?

Government and sector have committed to working towards all farmers and growers:

including the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change in their farm business and environment plans by 2025
calculating their greenhouse gas emissions sources and sinks and being incentivised to take actions on climate change through the development of an appropriate pricing mechanism for emissions by 2025

Key milestones in the joint action plan

Farm emissions reporting

For 25% of farms in New Zealand, a person responsible for farm management holds a documented annual total of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions, by methods and definitions accepted by the Steering Group, by 31 December 2021.
For all farms in New Zealand, a person responsible for farm management holds a documented annual total of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions, by methods and definitions accepted by the Steering Group, by 31 December 2022.
A pilot of a farm level accounting and reporting system has been completed by 1 January 2024 across a range of farm types.
A system for farm-level accounting and reporting of 2024 agricultural greenhouse gas emissions at farm level is in use by all farms by 1 January 2025.

Farm plans

Guidance is provided to farmers on how to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions through farm planning by 1 January 2021.
A quarter of farms have a written plan in place to measure and manage their greenhouse gas emissions by 1 January 2022.
All farms have a written plan in place to measure and manage their greenhouse gas emissions by 1 January 2025.

The milestones in the Joint Action Plan (He Waka Eke Noa), as well as provisions to determine whether progress is being made, is being legislated through the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Bill, which is currently with the Environment Select Committee for review.

How does this tie into all the other environment announcements – do I need multiple farm plans?

You will not need multiple farm plans. The integrated Farm Environment Plans mentioned in He waka eke noa will build on the plans currently proposed under the Essential Freshwater process to avoid duplication.