In its submission on the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill as part of Resource Management Act reforms, B+LNZ has called for significant changes because the current wording in the legislation does not match the Government’s intent.

Download B+LNZ's submission (PDF, 1.73MB)
Chair Kate Acland says B+LNZ supports the Government’s desire to reform the RMA and agrees with its principles and goals for replacement of the RMA.
“The existing system is expensive, complex and becoming mired in litigation.
“We welcome the intent to enable primary sector growth and development, reduce the need for consents, make more activities permitted and reduce litigation.
“However, as we have said since it was released, the way the legislation is currently written is missing the mark and farmers could be worse off.”
There are several critical areas where the wording in the proposed legislation does not match the intent.
“The language is more stringent around setting and managing limits and would likely see the need for more consents, not less.
“There are more onerous requirements on permitted activities.
“The lack of appropriate guardrails on the exercise of Ministerial and council powers in many areas and the lack of requirement to consider costs and benefits could result in significant economic impacts.
“There are significant issues with the role of, and amount of detail required for, Freshwater Farm Plans, and farmers would also need a consent or permit as well as a Freshwater Farm Plan in many cases.
“We also do not support the introduction of market-based allocation or levies for resource use, and are concerned that the same farming activity will now fall between two Acts and make the process for farmers more complicated and costly.
“These are just some of our concerns around the legislation, so we’re pushing hard for changes,” Acland says.
“We’re also calling for other things to be fixed as part of the RMA reform, such as the current issues with the approach to stock drinking water.
“The legislation has simply brought across the existing RMA wording on this, meaning we’ll continue to see increases in stock drinking water being prohibited in plan changes. This needs to be changed to focus on the direct effects of takes that have a more than minor effect or be permitted.”
Acland notes there is strong alignment across the agricultural sector on these issues.
Submissions closed on 13 February but B+LNZ received an extension to 20 February. More time was needed to address the scale of the issues and due to the importance of getting the new legislation right.
B+LNZ’s submission was informed by farmer feedback. Hundreds of farmers completed a survey testing some of the issues, over thousand listened to B+LNZ’s webinars and podcasts or accessed their website resources, and B+LNZ policy staff worked closely with the organisation’s Environment Reference Group made up of B+LNZ Farmer Councillors.
Acland says B+LNZ will make an oral submission to the Environment Select Committee, and will continue to meet with Ministers and officials.
“Freshwater health is incredibly important to farmers, rural communities and New Zealand. We need to get the framework for managing this right. Changes to the legislation are necessary but I’m confident we can get to an enduring framework that’s practical and achievable.”
B+LNZ’s submission can be found on its website here (PDF, 1.73MB)
ENDS
For more information, please contact [email protected].