This policy is about ensuring the availability of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most favourable soils for food and fibre production.
Ministry for the Environment and Ministry for Primary Industries
The National Policy Statement was gazetted on Monday 19 September 2022 and is in effect from Monday 17 October 2022.
Amendments to the National Policy Statement were gazetted on Thursday 18 December 2025 and are in effect from 15 January 2026.
National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (Amended December 2025)
Notice of gazettal [NZ Gazette website]
The Government consulted on proposals to prepare or amend national direction, including amending the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL).
Consultation closed on 27 July 2025. The Recommendations and Decisions Report summarising submissions received, officials' recommendations, and the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform's decisions on proposed amendments is now available.
See the Recommendations and Decisions Report
See the Infrastructure, development and primary sector national direction consultation
The Governor-General, on recommendation from the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform approved amendments to the National Policy Statement on 15 December 2025. These amendments come into force on 15 January 2026.
See the recent NPS-HPL amendments (PDF, 227KB)
The policy provides direction to improve the way highly productive land is managed under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
This is achieved through clear and consistent guidance to councils on how to:
About the national policy statement for highly productive land [MPI].