Menu
Bull Team
Your Order

National freshwater regulations

  1. Home >
  2. Environment >
  3. Environment policy and leadership >
  4. National freshwater regulations

Central Government's new freshwater regulations were finalised in early August. Here is a summary of those regulations and what they may mean for you.

DairyNZ will also continue to engage with Government and councils on farmers’ behalf to ensure that new regulations are pragmatic, and farmers and their businesses have adequate time to adjust.

What does it mean for me now?

DairyNZ has summarised the information and tailored it by region to help you better understand what these requirements mean for you.

Note: the factsheets were created on September 29 and maybe subject to change.

The new regulations include new standards in addition to those currently required by your regional council. Where council rules are more stringent, we expect that council rules will apply. 

There is a lot of information and if you would like more information or support email info@dairynz.co.nz.

Timeline

Download timeline (pdf)

If, as a result of the rules in the NES coming into force, the activity you were carrying out now requires a resource consent, you may continue carrying out that activity provided:

  • no consent was required for the activity and it was lawfully established prior to the commencement of the rule, and
  • the effects of the activities are of the same or of similar character, scale, and intensity as they were before commencement, and
  • you apply for a resource consent for the activity within six months after the rule comes into force and by the following dates:
    • 31 October 2021: for intensive winter grazing activities if this doesn’t comply with permitted activity standards.
    • 31 December 2021: for applications of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and stockholding areas that don’t meet permitted activity standards.

Always check with your reginal council to see if the existing user rights applies to your activities.

What's next?

Regional councils are charged with implementing and monitoring the rules. The details on how they plan to do that will become clearer in the second half of 2020 as they work their way through the changes.

Once we know how and when rules will be implemented DairyNZ will continue to provide you with tailored information to help you make decisions. For more information, contact your local Environmental Change Specialist.

We will also continue to engage with Government and councils on farmers’ behalf to ensure that new regulations are pragmatic, and farmers and their businesses have adequate time to adjust.

DairyNZ's position on DIN and nitrate toxicity

In its consultation package, Government proposed the addition of a dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) attribute. They have parked this for now based on strong feedback from DairyNZ and others that the measure was not scientifically robust and would not drive the ecosystem health outcomes it sought to deliver.

New attributes and management approach

Additional attributes introduced through the new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) will affect dairy farmers as they become operative in 2025-2026. These include catchment limits on things like suspended sediment and the requirement for councils to develop adaptive management plans to protect and improve ecosystem health and higher health standards at swimming spots. All regional councils are required to notify new regional plans that incorporate the attributes by December 31,  2024, and set timeframes for meeting limits over a generation.

DairyNZ will continue to advocate strongly on these issues, on farmers’ behalf with a particular focus on ensuring the timeframes for meeting targets and limits are based on scientific understanding and give adequate time for pasture, animal and people management changes. Farmer involvement in these processes will also be critical.

Farmers making progress

Healthy waterways are important to dairy farmers. We share the same aspirations to protect our streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Throughout the policy development process, DairyNZ has continued to highlight to the Government the good work farmers are already doing and the progress already made.

As well as providing you clarity on new rules, and having your back in policy development, DairyNZ will continue to share your good stories including through the Vision is Clear campaign.

Clean stream

National freshwater regulations FAQ

 Central Government's new freshwater regulations were finalised in early August. Here is a summary of your common questions.
Water

Dairy sector turns attention to on-farm action

 As the Government’s Action for Healthy Waterways becomes law, DairyNZ is turning its attention to what this now means on-farm.
Riparian planting

Essential changes made to freshwater regulations, but issues remain

 Sector feedback has resulted in significant change to the Government’s Essential Freshwater package but there is still a sting in the tail, says DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle.

Proposed freshwater policies could cost NZ $6 billion

 Economic modelling by DairyNZ shows the proposed Essential Freshwater package could significantly harm New Zealand’s dairy sector and the wider national economy – by 2050, costing $6 billion per year.
Water Accord video

Let’s all improve our waterways, without destroying rural communities

 Today's Essential Freshwater Package shows healthy and swimmable waterways are important to all New Zealanders, including dairy farmers, who share the same aspirations to protect our streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
Waterway

Waterways

 Dairying has an important role in protecting waterways. Find out how to improve and maintain water quality here.

The Vision is Clear

 The Vision is Clear is a movement that genuinely aims to improve water quality for all New Zealanders through inspiring Kiwis to look at the actions we can all take to improve our rivers, streams, lakes and beaches.
Did you find this useful?