01 Feb Environmental policy changes proposed by the new government
With the change of government at the end of 2023, there has been a lot of information circulating and speculation on changes to environmental policy.
Here we provide an update on what is currently known based on official announcements and statements from the new National-led coalition government.
Note, until relevant legislation is changed, all policy and regulation remains the same.
You can find official releases from the government at https://www.beehive.govt.nz/releases.
Freshwater policy
- The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) introduced in 2020 set the national direction for managing freshwater. On 14 December 2023, the government announced that the NPS-FM would be replaced with the replacement process expected to take two years. At this stage, it is unclear what the replacement will look like and the subsequent impacts on the farming industry.
- Under the previous government, the Resource Management Act (RMA) was being replaced by the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA) and Spatial Planning Act (SPA). Both of these Acts have now been repealed through the ‘Natural Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal Bill’ by the new Government on 24 December 2023. The current RMA will, therefore, remain in place.
- The new Natural Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal Bill includes a provision to allow councils up to an additional three years to notify their freshwater plan changes. This is intended to allow the government time to replace the NPS-FM and give time to regional councils to incorporate those changes into their regional plans. Regional councils now have until the end of 2027 to notify their new freshwater plans, an extension from the previous end of 2024 deadline. Councils may still choose to notify their plans earlier than 2027.
- The Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP) requirements are part of the RMA, so these remain unchanged by the repeal of the NBA.
- Further statements made in the agreements between the coalition partners relating to freshwater policy are provided below. Note, these are statements only at this stage until legislation changes.
- Amend the Resource Management Act 1991 to make it easier to consent new infrastructure including renewable energy, allow farmers to farm, get more houses built, and enable aquaculture and other primary industries.
- Replace the Resource Management Act 1991 with new resource management laws premised on the enjoyment of property rights as a guiding principle.
- Replace the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 and the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater to better reflect the interests of all water users.
- Replace the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 to allow district councils more flexibility in how they meet environmental limits and seek advice on how to exempt councils from obligations under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 as soon as practicable.
- Replace the National Policy Statement for Freshwater 2020 to rebalance Te Mana o te Wai to better reflect the interests of all water users.
- Cut red tape and regulatory blocks on irrigation, water storage, managed aquifer recharge and flood protection schemes.
- Support Farm Environment Plans administered by regional councils and targeted at a catchment level.
- Improve Farm Environment Plans so they are more cost-effective and pragmatic for farmers.
- Adopt standardised farm level reporting.
Greenhouse gas policy
- Statements in the coalition agreements relating to greenhouse gas policy were:
- Stop the current review of the ETS system to restore confidence and certainty to the carbon trading market.
- Progress work to recognise other forms of carbon sequestration, including blue carbon.
- Incentivise the uptake of emissions reduction mitigations, such as low methane genetics and low methane-producing animal feed.
- Maintain a split-gas approach to methane and carbon dioxide through to 2050 and review the methane science and targets in 2024 for consistency with no additional warming from agricultural methane emissions.
Biodiversity policy
- Statements in the coalition agreements relating to biodiversity policy were:
- Cease implementation of new Significant Natural Areas and seek advice on the operation of existing Significant Natural Areas as part of the Government’s programme to reform the Resource Management Act.