How we use land is changing
How we use land in New Zealand is changing. There are many reasons for this including changing economic market demands and climate change.
On this page
The total area of land used for agriculture and horticulture in New Zealand has been decreasing since 2002. But the export income from farming products has increased during this time. This suggests that fewer farms are producing more on less land.
While part of the increase is due to higher prices for dairy products globally, higher prices also encouraged land to be used more intensively.
For example, dairy cattle numbers have more than doubled since the 1980s.
The area of urban land in New Zealand increased by 15 per cent from 1996 to 2018.
Though 80 per cent of New Zealand’s population growth is happening in towns and cities — there is still a big impact on the surrounding land.
Most urban expansion is outwards onto productive land rather than upwards in multi-story buildings. So areas on the fringes of urban areas are in high demand for residential developments.
What we choose to eat and where we choose to live affect the ways we use land. Many consumers are becoming more discerning about the food they purchase. This influences industries to adapt their land-use practices.
Half of our land is used for agriculture and forestry. Most of the products from these industries are exported to other countries.
Fluctuations in overseas demand for our products can also influence and change land use.
For example, from 1983-1992 higher milk prices caused the land used for dairy farming to increase (by 22 per cent) and the land used for sheep farming to decrease (by 32 per cent).
Climate change is already making it harder for landowners to use, plan, and manage land resources.
Policies on trade, immigration, and housing can affect how, and how intensively, we use land. For example, zoning and planning regulations that dictate how land in specific areas can be used.
Policies can also influence markets and through them land use. For example, national and international policies to address climate change, like the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, can make plantation forestry a more or less attractive investment.