DairyNZ is pleased to see the Government confirm that Freshwater Farm Plans (FWFPs) will recognise existing industry programmes and act as an alternative to local council consents where appropriate.
These are changes DairyNZ has been advocating for over the past six years. DairyNZ GM of Farm Solutions and Policy Dr David Burger said the pragmatism was helpful.
“We’ve been working with dairy companies to provide a dairy perspective while the regulations are reviewed and appreciate this clearer direction on these important aspects,” says Dr Burger.
“We look forward to working with officials to finalise further improvements by the end of this year.
“It has been our long-standing position that the current system should be improved to reduce cost and complexity and better acknowledge the environmental progress farmers and the wider dairy sector are making.”
DairyNZ has long championed an outcomes-based approach to freshwater management. This means starting with the environmental outcomes that communities and tangata whenua want to achieve, and then addressing the specific contaminants of concern, whether sediment, E. coli, or nutrients.
FWFPs provide a platform to target those contaminants with tailored on-farm actions. They must remain agnostic to land use and instead focus squarely on environmental outcomes. The Dairy sector is already making strong progress in this space through voluntary initiatives.
In 2024, 84% of dairy farms were actively implementing and reporting under a farm environment plan and the sector is on track for all dairy farms having a plan by the end of the next dairy season.
“Therefore, we are pleased that DairyNZ efforts have helped to secure a pathway to recognising existing industry programmes that achieve equivalent environmental outcomes,” says Dr Burger.
“We need to build on this momentum by creating clear, practical transition pathways from current industry plans to regulatory FWFPs, and ensure existing, robust industry plans are recognised under the new regulations.
“This includes considering how existing regional plans may need to be amended to accommodate the changes to national regulations, necessary to avoid duplication and ensure integration.
“DairyNZ is committed to delivering enduring, practical freshwater policy that gives certainty to regulators, communities, and export markets, while delivering improved outcomes on the ground.
“We’ll continue to work closely with officials and the regional councils to ensure the final framework supports practical, evidence-based solutions that work for farmers,” says Dr Burger.
For more information visit Freshwater Farm Plans
Media contact
Jacob Quinn
Principal Corporate Communications Advisor
p 027 716 4197
e jacob.quinn@dairynz.co.nz
