Freshwater policy reform
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DairyNZ’s Policy Team is working to ensure dairy sector voices are heard as major freshwater policy changes occur. We advocate for dairy farmers on both national and regional policy changes by working with central and local government and other stakeholders, providing policy feedback, formal submissions, providing key science and economic evidence, and keeping dairy farmers informed about how they can get involved in these important processes.
What is changing
On 29 May 2025 the coalition Government launched a consultation to reform national direction under the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The consultation consists of four packages. Consultation for the first three packages will run from Thursday 29 May until 11.59pm on Sunday 27 July.
Package 1: Infrastructure and development
- Looks at ways to make it easier for councils to plan and deliver infrastructure.
Package 2: Primary sector
- Aims to enable growth in the primary sector by making changes to eight existing national direction instruments.
Package 3: Freshwater
- Seeks feedback on options to amend freshwater national direction to better reflect the interests of all water users.
Package 4: Going for Housing Growth (starting soon)
What changes to freshwater management are being considered?
There are several policy proposals that will have an impact on farmers, including:
- Rebalancing Te Mana o te Wai and freshwater management through multiple objectives.
- Providing flexibility in the National Objectives Framework.
- Enabling commercial vegetable growing.
- Addressing water security and water storage.
- Simplifying wetlands provisions and fish passage regulations.
- Addressing issues with farmer-facing regulations (e.g. N Cap).
- Mapping requirements for drinking water sources.
How can I get involved?
We held several webinars for levy payers over early July. You can download a copy of our presentation for these webinars.
If you couldn’t make it to a webinar, you can still contribute to DairyNZ’s submission to these proposals by:
- Looking through our presentation or the MfE information at the links below.
- Considering the issues and options.
- Contacting your local regional lead to provide feedback.
DairyNZ’s submission is drafted and is currently undergoing review. A summary of our submissions on key points is available.
You can also get involved directly by considering the proposed changes and providing feedback. You can find more information and the consultation material on the MFE website.
- Consultation on updating RMA national direction | Ministry for the Environment
- Freshwater national direction - Ministry for the Environment - Citizen Space
DairyNZ encourages all farmers to write their own submission to this consultation. Doing so provides an opportunity to explain the impacts of what is being proposed at the farm level, reinforcing the perspectives across the sectors. Some key tips for a good submission:
- Be clear on your support or opposition to each option.
- Highlight how the option would impact your farm (costs, time etc).
- Examples and photos help add a real-world view of how the proposal will work.
- Solutions are welcome.
- Don’t feel you have to go into extensive detail or provide a polished submission.
This is the first stage of consultation on the national directions. There will be another chance to give feedback when the government releases draft documents. At that stage, we can comment on the exact wording. We'll consider any feedback from levy payers throughout both stages.
DairyNZ is prepared for this consultation
The DairyNZ policy and science teams have been proactively preparing for this consultation, working with independent experts to develop an alternative national freshwater management framework. This puts us in a strong position to deliver a constructive, science-based response.
We are looking to ensure consistency in positioning across the sectors through early and continuous engagement with other organisations.
Four key outcomes we are seeking in a new approach to freshwater management are:
- Practical and effective – a science-based approach that drives real improvement, encourages collaboration, and clearly links on-farm actions to freshwater outcomes.
- Outcome-focused – prioritising human and ecosystem health outcomes over strict contaminant limits as proxies for these outcomes.
- Farmer-led catchment level solutions – supporting catchment and farmer-led freshwater planning and delivery with a mix of regulatory and voluntary actions.
- Balanced policy – ensuring long-term environmental and economic sustainability with clear regulations and market confidence.
Additional resources
Resource management reform
/regulation/advocacy/resource-management-reform/Regional freshwater advocacy
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