For over a decade, DairyNZ has invested science, policy and farm system expertise into Waikato Plan Change 1 – helping to create practical, fair rules for farmers.
Inside Dairy
3 min read
DairyNZ has worked with farmers and sector partners to help shape practical environmental rules under Waikato PC1.
Decisions made in regional planning today become the rules we all farm under tomorrow. Since discussions over Plan Change 1 began in 2012, DairyNZ has drawn on its policy, science, farm systems and economics expertise – alongside Fonterra and others – to push for evidence-based, fair and practical rules.
There are around 4500 farms in the catchment, and 1100 individual submissions on the plan were made during the PC1 submission process, many from the dairy and drystock sectors.
DairyNZ developed the Waikato Dairy Leaders Group to lead sector positions. Events were also held to raise awareness and support farmers with their own submissions.
DairyNZ provided internal water quality science, economics and farm systems expertise at all stages of the process, including in hearing panels and at the Environment Court.
The partnership with Fonterra during the Environment Court process reduced costs and ensured expert evidence was aligned for greater impact. DairyNZ also worked with Federated Farmers and Beef + Lamb NZ to agree on wording that strengthened the impact of their submissions.
Under the original PC1 proposal, farmers would have needed to supply a certified Overseer file to determine whether their farm required consent. With DairyNZ’s involvement, the process has changed. Now, only farms that require consent need to supply an Overseer file, saving hundreds of farmers thousands of dollars. The use of Overseer under consents has also changed, ensuring it better reflects the unique nature of each farm.
A further outcome was moving many higher-risk dairy farms from discretionary to controlled activity status, giving these farms clearer rules and more predictable consent requirements. The use of Overseer has also shifted to an approach that recognises work farmers have already done, considering what is reasonably practical to achieve.
This gives farmers greater clarity on what’s required, and confidence that their consent will be approved if they meet the conditions.
The Environment Court has recognised farm environment plans as the central tool for PC1. How a farm uses its plan depends on its activity status.
Farms within permitted limits can use a standards approach, where the plan shows how conditions are being met. Higher-risk farms – those that exceed the threshold for permitted rules – need a consent and a plan showing how farm practices are working towards or achieving industry good farming practice (GFP).
DairyNZ advocated strongly for the recognition of farm plans and sector GFP, throughout the process. This ensures farmers are not restricted through other types of regulation, such as input controls or other inflexible approaches. DairyNZ led the Waikato Sustainable Milk Plan study, rolling out farm plans across the Upper Karapiro and then Waipa catchments to demonstrate the effectiveness of a farm planning approach.
Evidence presented by DairyNZ showed the economic and farm system impacts of the council’s original approach, and how using GFP could achieve the same, or better, water quality outcomes while giving farmers more flexibility.
This gives farmers greater clarity on what’s required, and confidence that their consent will be approved if they meet the conditions.
Although the central government has delayed councils’ ability to implement new plan changes until 2027, PC1 is not included in this and is likely to be implemented from 2026.
Farmers will then have work to do in the first 12 months to ensure they are compliant.
For DairyNZ, the priority has been to take the lead on these changes on behalf of farmers. Work has ensured farmers can operate under the regulations with more flexibility, reduced costs, and greater recognition of the practical tools and practices that are proven to work.
Farmers can stay ahead by keeping an eye on DairyNZ’s website, working on their farm plans and developing a better understanding of their environmental performance.
By advocating for practical solutions, DairyNZ has already reduced costs and uncertainty for Waikato farmers, and its work on PC1 may inform how other regions approach water quality planning.
Behind every policy win are people who fought for practical solutions on your behalf. Meet four of the many team members whose expertise and dedication helped influence fairer, more workable rules for Waikato dairy farmers.
Mike Bramley, DairyNZ senior area manager - North and South Auckland
Mike was involved from the start through the sustainable milk plan project, which provided evidence on the value of farm environment plans in the PC1 catchment. He facilitated and supported awareness of PC1 with farmers throughout the region, while helping them provide their own submissions.
Dr Craig Depree, DairyNZ principal scientist, freshwater
Craig provided essential Water Quality expertise and evidence through the court hearings process. Craig contributed to expert working groups that represented the dairy voice at the table. He provided credible, in-depth technical evidence to The Environment Court.
Shaun Hazelton, DairyNZ senior policy advisor
Shaun managed stakeholders, balancing different policy positions throughout the process. Shaun managed lawyers, planners, and experts to provide evidence to support the Dairy sector position. His role involved reviewing and dissecting the 20+ other interests evidence and positions, to identify where DairyNZ could influence.
Dr David Burger, DairyNZ chief science and innovation officer
David provided water quality science and modelling expertise during the early stages of PC1, as well as leadership at the governance level. He provided expert evidence to the hearing process and worked with cross-sector groups to ensure the best outcome for dairy farmers could be achieved.
This article was originally published in Inside Dairy November-January 2026.
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