Resource management reform

DairyNZ is encouraged by the significant improvements made to the Natural Environment and Planning Bills through the select committee process, including stronger recognition of food and fibre production, more practical approaches to environmental limits, and the removal of several untested allocation mechanisms.

While these changes provide a stronger foundation for a more balanced and workable resource management system, further changes are needed to ensure the reforms work in practice for farmers. DairyNZ is reviewing the reported-back Bills in detail and will continue working with farmers, sector organisations, officials, and Ministers to secure a system that delivers environmental improvement, certainty, and lower unnecessary regulatory costs.

What has changed

The Select Committee report back on the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill include several changes that align with DairyNZ's advocacy priorities, including:

Recognition of food and fibre production in the purpose of the resource management system.
A more practical framework for setting environmental limits, including the ability to use narrative limits.
Requirements for decision-makers to consider existing resource use, naturally occurring processes and cost-benefit analysis.
Removal of proposed comparative permitting and market-based allocation mechanisms.
Restoration of controlled activities.
Stronger safeguards around natural resource levies.

Resource Management Reform

The Government has introduced Bills to replace the Resource Management Act 1991 with two new acts:

The Planning Bill – focused on planning to enable development and infrastructure.
The Natural Environment Bill – focused on the use, protection, and enhancement of the natural environment.

DairyNZ submission on the Natural Environment and Planning Bills 2026

Resources Regulations

DairyNZ's submission on the Natural Environment and Planning Bills is available to read here.

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DairyNZ view

DairyNZ is supportive of Resource Management Reform. We are seeking enduring policy solutions that deliver environmental improvements and enable productive growth for the sector. We support the Government’s intent of a more enabling system. However, we do not believe the current drafting delivers on Ministerial intent.

Our view is that dairy farming should be managed within appropriate, science‑based and outcomes‑focused environmental limits. In most catchments, a mix of Freshwater Farm Plans, national standards for common dairy activities, permitted pathways for low‑risk activities, and catchment‑led actions provides a sufficient framework to improve ecosystem health.

We are working across the primary sector to provide informed and constructive feedback through the select committee process and engagement with ministers and officials.

Overview and transition to the new system

Overview of the new system

The two proposed Bills separate land-use planning and natural resource management. The aim is to develop a system with clear direction for decision-makers and make it more consistent and predictable for resource users.

The goals in each Bill drive the outcomes of the system. They set out what the system must achieve and what can be regulated. It is important that the goals enable the use of natural resources such as land and water for productive land uses.

The Bills propose an overarching structure that will be implemented through secondary legislation including national instruments and a combined plan for each region.

The national direction that sits under the Acts (refer to image below) heavily influence the outcomes for farmers. This detail will follow in a second phase of information in 2026.

Figure adapted from: Better planning for a better New Zealand | Ministry for the Environment

Transitional system and consent duration

It will take time to fully transition to the new system, and the RMA and all regional and district plans will still be in force during the transition period.

A Transitional framework is included in the bills. This includes:

Targeted changes to the RMA.
A Transitional consenting framework.
Regional and district plans staying in place until the new system is fully switched on.

Consents due to expire during the transition period will be extended to a date two years after the end of the period. The end date is not set and will be decided by Order in Council, once all the plans have been notified. It is likely that current consents will be extended to 2031. The RMA and all planning instruments under the RMA will cease to apply at the end of the transition period.

Consent duration already extended

Some changes to consent duration have already passed into law to make it easier for farmers to transition to a new resource management system. This is what you need to know:

All consents expiring before 31 Dec 2027 will be automatically extended to this date, or a maximum of 35 years if the consent is a water or discharge permit.
Water permits and discharge permits are capped at 35 years.
Consent conditions are unchanged and will need to be followed.
Renewals already lodged with a regional council will be extended to 31 December 2027.
Farmers with an application in progress are still able to progress the consent renewal under the current RMA framework which is worth considering or may decide to withdraw their application.
If the replacement application includes activities not covered by the existing consent, a new consent will be needed for those activities.
Regional councils must inform all applicable consent holders.

More information: Resource Management (Duration of Consents) Amendment Act | Ministry for the Environment

We advise you to contact your regional council if you have questions about your consent renewal.

What's next?

The coalition government are indicating that the Bills are expected to progress quickly through Parliament, with a second reading scheduled for early August, followed by the Committee of the Whole House stage in mid-August. The Government has indicated further amendment papers will be introduced during this process to address remaining issues and remains on track to pass the legislation before Parliament rises for the year.

DairyNZ policy and advocacy approach

We will continue to work with sector partners such as Beef and Lamb NZ, Federated Farmers, Horticulture New Zealand, IrrigationNZ, the Fertiliser Association and Dairy Sector organisations to find alignment.

DairyNZ tested positions with dairy farmer groups and levy payers through webinars and discussions to inform our submission.

Resource management reform

The Coalition Government is making changes to the Resource Management system. DairyNZ made an extensive submission to this process and will continue to engage with ministers and officials. This webpage outlines our core concerns and information on the process ahead.