Regional policy and advocacy
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DairyNZ’s Policy Team is working to ensure dairy sector voices are heard as major freshwater policy changes occur. We advocate for dairy farmers on both national and regional policy changes by working with central and local government and other stakeholders, providing policy feedback, formal submissions, providing key science and economic evidence, and keeping dairy farmers informed about how they can get involved in these important processes.
Both the existing national policy direction and any replacement will be implemented differently within each region, and so our responses will vary from region to region. As part of our support for dairy farmers, we are involved in many regional primary sector stakeholder groups where we have an opportunity to give dairy- specific feedback to the council. DairyNZ works also across the pastoral sector to find alignment with other industry organisations where relevant.
We also work with our DairyNZ technical experts to respond to regional council water quality and economic assessments. DairyNZ is active in other policy areas too - our work with Freshwater Farm Plans, N-cap and wintering regulations are some examples of where we have successfully advocated for changes to regulations and more pragmatic on-farm implementation.
Changes brought in by the government through the Essential Freshwater package required all regional councils to review and publicly notify their regional land and water plans by December 2024. Changes brought in by central Government last year put a halt to regional councils’ notification of freshwater planning instruments (regional policy statements and plans that give effect to the NPS-FM 2020) until a new NPS-FM takes effect or 31 December 2025. Some councils are still progressing work to inform future plans.
Updates from the regions
Waikato - Waikato Regional Council is progressing Plan Change One through the Environment Court. For more information see our Plan Change One webpage. New plan change delayed until 2026/2027.
Taranaki - The regional council is currently developing draft policy and objectives ready for refinement against expected new NPS-FM direction.
Horizons - The regional council is working through their Oranga Wai process: Our Freshwater Future process, towards notification in 2027. For more information see the Horizons Oranga Wai website.
Canterbury - The Regional Policy Statement is on hold until 2026.
West Coast - The regional council is currently progressing updates to their Regional Air Plan.
Otago - New Regional Land and Water Plan on hold. The Regional Policy Statement going through the Environment Court.
Southland - Plan Change Tuatahi deferred until 2027. Interim plan change process in 2025.
You can find more information on the respective regional council website.
DairyNZ will continue to proactively work with regional councils to improve their evidence base for regional rules around freshwater policy, and to find constructive policy solutions for farmers. DairyNZ recommends farmers continue working to achieve Good Farming Practice. There are also national regulations and regional rules which are still in place that farmers need to follow.
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