Freshwater farm plans are a practical way for farmers and growers to identify, manage and reduce the impact of farming on the freshwater environment. They are now required in parts of the Waikato and Southland regions from 1 August 2023. They will be rolled out to all regions by the end of 2025.
See the freshwater farm plan regulations [New Zealand Legislation website]
All those with:
Freshwater farm plans have been legislated under Part 9A of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and the Resource Management (Freshwater Farm Plans) Regulations 2023 (the regulations).
They are a farm planning process that puts the health of the whenua (land) and wai (water) at the centre of farm decision making.
Farmers will need to do an on-farm freshwater risk assessment and identify actions to manage (or mitigate) those risks.
On-farm actions to manage risks to freshwater will be tailored to each farm based on:
Freshwater farm plans will need to be certified and audited. The results of certification and auditing will be reported to the regional council.
Many farmers already have a farm environment plan or are part of an industry programme and freshwater farm plans will build on that work.
This will cover parts of the system including INFDP, certifier and auditor appointment process and freshwater farm plan programme implementation and performance.
This will be In the form of:
This will cover parts of the system including INFDP, certifier and auditor appointment process and freshwater farm plan programme implementation and performance.
This will be In the form of:
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:
The regulations have taken effect in parts of Waikato and in from 1 August 2023. The regulations are in effect in the Waipā freshwater management unit (FMU) in Waikato and in the Aparima and Fiordland and Islands freshwater catchments in Southland.
The remaining FMU and freshwater catchments in Waikato and Southland will be rolled out between 1 February 2024 and 1 July 2025.
See Resource Management (Application of Part 9A—Freshwater Farm Plans) Order 2023 [New Zealand Legislation website]
Farm operators in areas where freshwater farm plans are in effect will have 18 months to prepare their first plan for certification.
Other regions will follow, with the rollout schedule informed by:
Other regions are likely to be rolled out in the following order:
We know that ‘one size does not fit all’ when it comes to on-farm solutions.
The freshwater farm plan process requires farmers and growers to identify on-farm risks to freshwater and to determine actions to manage those risks based on the:
This approach will help ensure that on-farm actions in freshwater farm plans are practical and effective for that individual farm and will have real impact on the health of freshwater in the local catchment.
Farmers can develop their own freshwater farm plan, or they can engage an advisor or a freshwater farm plan certifier to assist them.
Guidance and resources will be available to support farmers and those developing plans including:
This list will be updated as more resources become available.
Farmers and those developing plans can also look to their relevant industry groups and local catchment groups for further support.
Freshwater farm plans will need to be certified.
Freshwater farm plan certifiers will be appointed by regional councils. Regional councils will make a list of certifiers available.
Farmers must engage a certifier within 18 months of the regulations applying in their area and support them to conduct the certification process.
Once the freshwater farm plan has been certified the certifier will notify the relevant regional council.
Freshwater farm plans will need to be recertified every 5 years.
Freshwater farm plans will need to be audited within 12 months of the initial certification.
Freshwater farm plan auditors will be appointed by regional councils. Regional councils will make a list of auditors available.
Farmers must arrange for an auditor to audit their farm and support them to conduct the audit.
The auditor will assess whether the farmer is implementing the FWFP as set out in the certified plan.
Once the freshwater farm plan has been audited the auditor will notify the relevant regional council of the audit grade.
The timeframe for the following audit will be determined by the audit grade.
Freshwater farm plan certifiers and auditors may come from a range of backgrounds provided they have the necessary skills and experience (competencies) set out in the regulations.
The appointment process for certifier and auditors will involve:
The appointment process is run by a third-party appointment process manager (AsureQuality). More information on how to apply to become a FW FP certifier or auditor can be found below.
The appointment process manager will recommend the appointment of applicants to the relevant regional council.
Te Mana o te Wai is the central concept in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) for all freshwater management.
Te Mana o te Wai prioritises the health and wellbeing of freshwater ecosystems, then the health of people, followed by commercial use.
Under the NPS-FM regional councils will involve tangata whenua, as well as others, in the regional freshwater planning process.
The local approach to giving effect to Te Mana o te Wai, and the content of regional plans will be reflected in freshwater farm plan through the catchment context, challenges, and values requirements.
Individual farmers and growers will not be required to identify and engage relevant tangata whenua about their freshwater farm plan.
Catchment groups work within their community and with regional councils to identify their catchment priorities.
They can also play a key role in:
evaluating farm plans as a group to progress catchment outcomes.
Freshwater farm plans will be a key tool for farmers and growers to manage their freshwater requirements, including documenting actions they are taking to meet other regulatory requirements.
In some instances, farmers will be able to use their freshwater farm plan to meet other freshwater regulatory requirements (eg, intensive winter grazing). This applies only to requirements where that regulation specifically allows for a freshwater farm plan pathway to be used.
Regional councils are developing regional freshwater plans that implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater 2020 (required to be notified by the end of 2024).
Freshwater farm plans will tie into these regional council plans and will be a way for farmers to document actions they are taking to meet council rules and requirements.
This does not mean that freshwater farm plans will replace 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.
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 programmes such as:
The freshwater farm plan system will support existing industry programmes being used to meet freshwater farm plan requirements. We are actively working with industry to help update programmes to align with the freshwater farm plan requirements.
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:
For more information on freshwater farm plans contact freshwaterfarmplans@mfe.govt.nz
The Ministry for the Environment is developing guidance to help with the implementation of freshwater farm plans. The guidance will help councils, tangata whenua, farm operators and advisors understand how the freshwater farm plan system works and what they need to do.
See available guidance below. This list will be updated as new guidance becomes available.