B+LNZ update on environmental policy advocacy May 2026

Here’s another quarterly round-up of B+LNZ’s environmental policy advocacy. It outlines some of the key areas we’re working in on behalf of our farmers and what we’re advocating for.

At the bottom of this email there’s also some information about other advocacy areas. 

RMA reform 

Two Bills to replace the Resource Management Act are working their way through the legislative processes – following submissions to Parliament’s Environment Select Committee, the Bills are being redrafted. This remains a critical area of focus for B+LNZ. 

Recent developments

• B+LNZ has been in a wide range of meetings with Ministers, MPs and officials to highlight the issues with the draft legislation and we continue to work closely with other industry organisations on this. Discussions have been constructive to date.
• We expect a report back from the Select Committee in the next month or two. We hope there will be improvements to the initial legislation as a result – if required, we will seek further improvements as the legislation progresses through Parliament.
• The Government still aims to pass the two RMA replacement bills before the coming election.

What B+LNZ is advocating for

• We continue pushing for the legislation to match Ministers’ original intent, which was for a more streamlined and practical framework and for farmers to need fewer consents. You can find more information about our concerns here.
• An area that has not had as much coverage is the proposed biodiversity provisions and whether they will be fit for purpose – we have particular concerns about biodiversity limits being set by regional councils, which we don’t think is appropriate.
• We continue to engage closely with Ministers and officials on freshwater farm plans (FWFP) and we’re pushing for FWFPs to be risk-based and as practical as possible. Our position remains that very low risk properties should not be subject to a mandatory, regulated farm plan framework – the risks do not justify the cost.
• We are also seeking to engage in parallel on the secondary legislation that will sit under these two bills.
• Secondary legislation is frequently where the rubber hits the road (such as the stock exclusion and winter grazing regulations released in 2020).
• We need the national direction that replaces the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management to set up a framework that is affordable, realistic and achievable. It should also not have inappropriate bottom lines, and should have less attributes (that is, the factors used to assess water quality). This view is informed by experience of the suspended fine sediment national bottom lines, which had significant flaws in the way they were determined and set up, and in their achievability. Find this 2024 research here.
• We also have ongoing concerns about upcoming local government changes. Local councils have been given 90 days to provide feedback on a proposal to merge, and this will provide complexity when working with them on freshwater and RMA issues.

Climate change 

We continue to advocate for enabling climate change policy where what farmers are asked to do is fair and achievable. 

Recent developments

• Last week we released an update report on international approaches to climate change policy. This showed that New Zealand is now in step with our international counterparts with reduced methane targets and removal of emissions pricing. Most overseas jurisdictions do not have agriculture specific targets and those that are addressing agriculture emissions are not doing it through pricing but by incentivising farmers to make reductions through subsidies and/or credits for the use of approaches such as alternative energy, technology to capture methane from effluent and feed additives. This report will inform our discussions with policymakers and address perceptions that New Zealand farmers have been given an easy ride by the removal of emissions pricing and revised methane targets. For more information see last week’s media release about the update report.
• Also last week, we announced a further eight organisations have signed the joint statement calling on parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to adopt a split-gas approach to greenhouse gas reporting under the Paris Agreement. There is now a total of 41 organisations across 16 countries in this coalition. The inclusion of the Global Farm Platform, an international academic umbrella organisation, and World Animal Protection Africa, an animal welfare NGO, reinforces that a split-gas approach is a matter of sound science and good policy, not a narrow industry position. Find out more about the joint statement here.
• The Government recently provided more information on its Nature and Carbon Markets scheme. While there are some potential positives, we need more information and will keep farmers updated – see last week’s e-diary story about the announcement for more information.

Afforestation 

We continue to monitor whole-farm sales for conversion to forestry, particularly carbon farming. We’ll soon release updated independent research by Orme & Associates that will show whether the Government’s legislation aiming to restrict wholesale conversions of farmland to exotic forestry (by stopping land use class 1–5 land from entering the ETS and capping new ETS registrations on LUC 6 land) is working. Even if there is a decline in the amount of farmland being converted, communities are still managing the consequences of previous conversions. 

This week the Government announced an increase in funding to tackle wilding pines, which is a welcome decision as the spread of wilding pines onto productive farmland has been having a significant impact. 

Further information

We’ll aim to send you another environment policy roundup in around three months’ time. 

Our other advocacy work currently includes

• We recently released, with the Meat Industry Association (MIA), the red meat sector pre-election manifesto. It lists nine policy priorities to support the production of nutritious and natural grass-fed meat for consumers around the world. We’re meeting with politicians to discuss these priorities as parties develop their policy platforms. You can find the 2026 manifesto here.
• Arranging farm visits for politicians such as Labour’s Environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking (see this social post) to better inform their understanding of the need for workable and achievable rules and to show how farmers are managing environmental challenges in practice.
• We’re working with the MIA on key pieces of research to underpin our sector’s sustainability and economic value stories. In the next few weeks we’ll release updated research on the economic and social impact of sheep and beef farming. This will be critical to our advocacy efforts and to building public confidence and pride in our sector. We’re also working on the development of an environmental sustainability framework, similar to what other countries are doing.
• Working behind the scenes with officials and Government to ensure fuel and energy settings support the whole red meat sector in the event of restrictions. This advocacy has been backed by practical examples from farmers about fuel deliveries, fertiliser access and what disruption would mean in the real world. See this recent e-diary story about the Government’s recent announcement of a revised Fuel Response Plan that provides more certainty.
• Ongoing work in trade policy. We are preparing for the possibility of the United States launching a global safeguard investigation into lamb imports – working across the sector, particularly with the MIA, and with New Zealand Government and officials, maintaining regular contact with our US customers and partners. A safeguard investigation would underscore how broadening our trade options through the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) helps spread risk and support long‑term returns for farmers and the wider New Zealand economy. That’s why we welcomed the signing of the FTA and Labour’s confirmation of support for the agreement.
• Work in the food and fibre vocational education and training space to ensure our sector has access to the skills it needs in future – for more information see last week’s e-diary story on the options being explored.

Keep an eye on B+LNZ e-diaries for the latest developments. 

As always, please talk to one of us or your local B+LNZ farmer director if you have any questions or concerns.