Govt to Overhaul Policies Impacting Primary Sector to Boost Farming and Free Up Rural Economy

"For too long, the primary sector has been burdened by unworkable and costly regulations," stated Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.

The New Zealand Government is set to review and update national policy directives affecting the primary sector, as part of its broader effort to reduce regulatory burdens and shift decision-making from Wellington to local communities.

"For too long, the primary sector has been burdened by unworkable and costly regulations," stated Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. "We are slashing red tape and moving away from one-size-fits-all regulations to empower local decision-making and free up farming."

As part of the reforms to the Resource Management Act (RMA), the Government is introducing a second RMA Amendment Bill alongside a comprehensive regulatory package aimed at driving growth and productivity in the primary sector. The changes will impact various areas including freshwater, indigenous biodiversity, commercial forestry, marine aquaculture, quarrying, and water storage.

"This integrated approach aims to better align policy settings with the needs of farmers, foresters, and other land users," Minister McClay explained. "The current process for making or amending national direction instruments is lengthy and costly, so streamlining this process is a key part of our significant RMA reforms." Key changes include:

Freshwater: A more balanced freshwater policy will be introduced, replacing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020. The changes will support vegetable growing and on-farm water storage, balancing economic and environmental goals.

Drinking Water: Clarified drinking water standards will make it easier for regional councils to implement regulations, adopting a risk-based approach to source water protection.

Indigenous Biodiversity: Policies will be adjusted to protect unique environments sensibly without imposing undue land-use restrictions, also better supporting quarrying and mining activities.

Commercial Forestry: Streamlined regulations for commercial forestry will reverse parts of the regulations that increased council discretion for afforestation and review forestry slash management.

Marine Aquaculture: Changes to section 127 of the RMA will support innovation and growth in the aquaculture industry.

Quarrying: It will become easier to obtain consents for quarrying materials like crushed rock, gravel, and sand—resources essential for infrastructure projects.

Freshwater Farm Plans: The rollout of freshwater farm plans will be paused until improvements to the system are finalized, aiming to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers.

Minister McClay emphasized that feedback from sector groups will be crucial in ensuring the changes are effective. The national direction package will follow the same timeline as the second RMA Amendment Bill, expected to be introduced in December and passed into law by mid-2025.

"The cumulative effects of these changes will drive a more efficient and effective resource management system and help achieve our ambitious goal of doubling the value of all exports, including food and fibre products, within the next decade," said McClay.