DairyNZ has welcomed the Government's decision to move forward on a replacement to the Resource Management Act (RMA) but wants more detail to make sure it is truly beneficial to farmers.
“A comprehensive reform of the RMA is important, but farmers need certainty on some fundamental issues,” DairyNZ General Manager of Farm Solutions and Policy Dr David Burger said.
“The RMA impacts almost all facets of the day-to-day operations on farm, so it is critical that dairy farmers’ interests are heard.
“Reducing complexity, having more consistency, and greater controls on when and how land use can be restricted, are easy fixes that we strongly support.
“However, we have questions around the possible introduction of market tools and levies for resource use, particularly in relation to water quality.
“Our years of working in this area make it clear that it is impossible to put a ‘number’ on freshwater contaminants because of the complexity of the contaminants and the freshwater systems in each catchment. That applies at both a catchment and farm scale.
“Changes to our resource management system need to ensure decision making around resource use and environmental limits recognises what fair and achievable water quality looks like and how this can be measured and delivered.”
DairyNZ also wants to ensure there is sufficient flexibility to consider different contexts when setting environmental limits and outcomes.
“The Government has signalled a significant package of national policy reform. There needs to be clarity around when and how these changes will be implemented. This certainty is needed for both national policy direction and regional council implementation,” Dr Burger said.
“DairyNZ has been proactively developing solutions to freshwater quality issues within the existing framework and we need to be clear how it will work.
“DairyNZ will continue to work with the Government during the consultation phase on the reform changes to make sure the voice of dairy farmers is heard.
“We will examine the new independent Expert Advisory Group report in depth to ensure that any legislation aimed at promoting infrastructure and urban development doesn’t come at the cost of farmers.”
Media contact
Kahlia McNulty
Senior Corporate Communications Advisor
p 022 854 2451
e kahlia.mcnulty@dairynz.co.nz