Freshwater farm plans will provide a practical and flexible way for farmers to achieve good environmental outcomes. We encourage those who manage or work on farms to understand how the freshwater farm plan system will benefit them.
All those with:
They are a legal instrument established under Part 9A of the RMA (sections 217A to 217M).
Freshwater farm plans will encourage actions to reduce a farm’s impact on freshwater. They will provide farmers the flexibility to find the right solution for their farm and catchment.
Many farmers already have a farm environment plan or are part of and industry programme and freshwater farm plans will build on that work.
Freshwater farm plans will bring together many existing requirements and allow for better recognition of on-farm efforts to improve freshwater.
Benefits to having a freshwater farm plan:
Elements of a freshwater farm plan:
All the elements shown in the graphic contribute to significant gains in the health of New Zealand's waterbodies.
Benefits to having a freshwater farm plan:
Elements of a freshwater farm plan:
All the elements shown in the graphic contribute to significant gains in the health of New Zealand's waterbodies.
Healthy freshwater supports healthy communities, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy. However freshwater quality is declining. It is being impacted by urban development, agriculture, horticulture, forestry and other activities.
Freshwater farm plans are part of the Essential Freshwater package introduced in 2020 to:
Freshwater farm plans can demonstrate how other regulatory requirements are being met on farms such as those from the:
Freshwater farm plans and stock exclusion regulations are complementary ways to manage stock exclusion.
Freshwater farm plans may become a section within the integrated farm plan framework. Integrated farm planning will provide a single framework for a farmer or grower to bring together all their farm planning requirements into one place. It is not a regulatory tool.
The aim of the integrated approach to farm planning is to streamline compliance, reduce duplication, and provide a structured approach for farmers and growers to lift performance.
Regional councils will be developing regional freshwater plans that implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater 2020.
Freshwater farm plans will tie into regional council plans – and will be able to be used to demonstrate regulatory compliance to regional councils.
This does not mean that freshwater farm plans will replace the need for resource consents or rules. These other regulatory tools are still important, and we expect councils will continue to use them where necessary.
Farm environment plans help farmers and growers plan systems and practices that reduce their impact on the environment. Farm environment plans can be used as the basis for freshwater farm plans under the proposed regulations.
Farmers and growers should continue to use any existing farm environment plans to manage environmental risks until the freshwater farm plan system applies to their farm.
Industry programmes will play a key role in enabling effective implementation and delivery of freshwater farm plans. The primary sector has played a leadership role in the development of industry assurance programmes such as Fonterra's Tiaki Programme, NZGAP, and the red meat sector’s New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP). Many of these have an environmental component.
The freshwater farm plan framework will allow for the continued use of existing industry programmes, provided they meet the regulations. We are actively working with industry to update programmes where necessary.
We know that ‘one size does not fit all’ when it comes to on-farm solutions. Freshwater farm plans will be built using available local information and updated over time.
They will include a risk-based tailored approach to managing impacts on freshwater. This will help ensure that mitigation actions have real impact and are effective and practical.
While freshwater farm plans can be developed by individual farmers. We expect in many cases the creation of a FWFP will need the support of, specialist information, engagement of advisors, perhaps information from primary sector groups, catchment groups and regional councils.
The freshwater farm plan will need to be certified by a qualified certifier who then advises the regional council when the plan is fit for purpose.
Under the Freshwater National Policy Statement, regional councils will involve tangata whenua, as well as others, in the regional freshwater planning process.
Freshwater farm plans will then reflect these regional plans when they are finalised. Regional plans might include, for example, the main issues that need to be addressed, what mahinga kai values/locations need to be protected and what particularly important sites need protection or restoration.
Individual farmers and growers will not be required to identify and engage relevant tangata whenua about their freshwater farm plan. That would risk placing an unreasonable burden on both tangata whenua and farmers.
Catchment groups of all types work within their community and with regional councils to identify their catchment priorities. They will also play a key role in supporting the uptake of freshwater farm plans, sharing and setting group outcomes, advances in farming practice and evaluating farm plans as a group to progress catchment outcomes.
It will take time to build up the resources, capacity and capability needed to certify freshwater farm plans. While freshwater farm plans will start to be introduced in 2023, they will be phased in throughout New Zealand over time.
Workforce planning is underway in conjunction with MPI’s wider Primary Industry Advisory Services Workforce Strategy.
For more information on freshwater farm plans contact freshwaterfarmplans@mfe.govt.nz