Waikato Plan Change 1 is designed improve the water quality of the Waikato and Waipā Rivers. After being initially proposed in 2016, it has gone through multiple hearings, reviewed over 1,000 submissions, and been subject to many appeals. PC1 is now nearing its end stages, with a final decision expected this December.

Barring surprises, expect a risk-based, Farm Environment Plan (FEP) centred regime with controlled-activity consents for higher-risk farms, staged stock-exclusion deadlines, and periodic N-loss assessments. There will be less emphasis on blanket nitrogen caps and more on audited, farm-specific mitigations and continuous improvement.

Final wording depends on the Court’s concluding decision and how it meshes with the newest RMA changes, but it is a reasonable expectation that the plan’s proposed requirements will become operative in early 2026.

What this means for:
Dairy Farmers

•  Consent Pathway: Most dairy farms will need a controlled-activity consent linked to a certified FEP. The council cannot decline the consent, but it can impose conditions.
•  FEP Requirements: Must show good management practices (nutrient budgeting, effluent management, riparian planting, wintering plans, erosion/sediment control).
• Nitrogen Management: Overseer or similar tools will be used for periodic reporting (e.g. every 5 years), not as a hard cap. Expect continuous improvement obligations.
• Stock Exclusion: Mandatory fencing of waterways, staged by slope (up to ~15°) over set timeframes.
•  Land Use Change: New dairy conversions or significant intensification remain restricted.
• Bottom line: You’ll need a consent and an FEP, but the rules aim for flexibility and staged improvement rather than absolute stocking or N caps.

Drystock Farmers (sheep & beef, deer, mixed livestock)

•  Consent Pathway: Many drystock farms (particularly extensive, hill-country, low-input) will qualify as permitted activities if they meet low-risk criteria. Higher-intensity or erosion-prone farms may need a controlled consent and a FEP.
• FEP Focus: Likely to emphasise erosion and sediment control, riparian management, and targeted nutrient loss reduction.
•  Stock Exclusion: Obligations phased in, but fencing is only required on suitable land (not steep back-country).
•  Nitrogen Reporting: You may still need occasional N-loss estimates, but risk-based approach recognises extensive grazing as relatively low impact.
•  Bottom line: If you’re low-intensity, you may avoid a consent altogether, but you’ll still need to show you’re managing sediment and waterways responsibly.

Horticulturists (including commercial vegetable production)

•  Consent Pathway: Most will need a controlled-activity consent with a FEP. A specific pathway for commercial vegetable production (CVP) is included.
• FEP Requirements: Strong focus on nutrient management, irrigation efficiency, soil structure protection, sediment run-off control, and buffer zones.
• Flexibility: The CVP pathway is intended to provide certainty for rotational growers, recognising the practicalities of shifting land use.
•  Stock Exclusion: Not relevant unless mixed with grazing.
•  Bottom line: Expect tailored FEPs as standard, with close scrutiny on nutrient leaching and soil management.

Across all sectors

• Timing: Final Court wording due late 2025; operative rules expected to be in place from 2026.
• Core shift: From blanket caps and generic limits to farm-specific FEPs, audited and reviewed, with staged deadlines.
•  Certainty: Consents will be required for most higher-risk operations, but they’re controlled (can’t be declined if required plan conditions are met).

Freshwater Planning Tool
There are many farmers in Waikato already using the QCONZ FWFP tool as an easy and effective way to map water quality risks and then to plan and manage risk mitigation activities.
If you’re looking for a freshwater plan management system that the Waikato Regional Council environmental team know and understand, you can find out more about this tool here (New Zealand’s most popular freshwater planning tool).

To get an accurate prediction for a project’s timeline and cost, popular wisdom is to double the budget and time of the initial estimates. New Zealand Winegrowers did not have the luxury of accommodating budget overruns or missing delivery dates when developing the pilot of a new freshwater farm planning tool for their members.

New Zealand Winegrowers project manager, Hayley Abbott, put out an RFP seeking a vendor to provide a software solution that enabled its members to complete and submit a Freshwater Farm Plan through an online tool.

“To give this some context, this was not just about creating a planning tool, this project aims to drive improved protection of water quality in waterways across New Zealand’s key wine regions. Building a freshwater farm planning tool for our members further strengthens our collective commitment to sustainable winegrowing.” Hayley says.

After evaluating the responses, they selected QCONZ to undertake this work. “With budget and time constraints we required a vendor with a good track record, who was competent yet flexible, and easy to work with. We needed a vendor who could demonstrate that they were prepared to understand the New Zealand wine sector and create a bespoke solution for our industry, that would support our members in their ability to meet their regulatory obligations.

“QCONZ have been fabulous to work with. They were open and responsive resulting in a core build that was fast and of high quality. Time was a significant factor for us so a rapid delivery ensured we could pilot with our members in a suitable timeframe during the busy harvest season.

“I’ve worked with many vendors and what stood out for me in this project was their pragmatic approach. We were not subject to a rigid internal project methodology, QCONZ worked with us to agree a ‘way of working’ prior to the commencement of the project. Then we simply got on with it. We did what was important, didn’t sweat the small stuff, and ended up with a great result. We also had a lot of fun along the way, and the entire team enjoyed the product development. There was a real sense of pride with what we accomplished.”

When asked what the key elements were to bring the project in on time and on budget, Justin Moss, GM Information Technology at QCONZ, said a big one was the how well New Zealand Winegrowers and QCONZ were aligned. “Both of us are smaller organisations compared to our counterparts, we are used to making a little go a long way, we are very focused on the things that matter and genuinely enjoy what we do. This meant we maintained clarity and great relationships throughout the project, we were able to adapt quickly when needed and just get on and do the work.”

Hayley concurs, “Onerous processes are typically insurance against poor judgement and average relationships. With aligned teams and capable people, you can save yourself from unnecessary overhead and get a lot built in a short time. Justin and I both focussed on ensuring everyone on the team had a voice and this resulted in excellent collaboration and exceptionally high-quality product enhancements. We continuously worked on doing everything possible to set the team up for success. We are now in a good place to manage the changes required when the new freshwater regulations are released and get this new online tool.

Farmers will face a lighter regulatory burden after the Government confirmed changes to Freshwater Farm Plan (FW-FP) rules as part of the RMA reforms. These changes are in response to farmers and industry’s concerns that the previous rules were too onerous.

Key Changes

• Bigger thresholds before plans are required
  • FW-FPs will now only be mandatory for:
    • Farms with 50 ha or more of pastoral, arable, or mixed use (previously 20 ha)
    • Farms with 50 ha or more of orchards or vineyards (previously 5 ha)
    • Farms with 5 ha or more of other horticultural land
    • All commercial dairy supply farms
• Certification required only in specific cases
  • Farmers will only need to have their FW-FP certified if:
    • They are carrying out activities specified in regulations
    • Their plan is being used to meet another regulatory requirement
    • Their farm is in a catchment designated in regulations as requiring certification
  • Certification will still be voluntary for others
• Industry bodies to play a bigger role
  • The Minister for the Environment (not regional councils) will now approve or revoke industry organisations that deliver FW-FP certification and audit services
  • Regional councils will continue to monitor performance and alert the Minister if concerns arise

What This Means on Farm

The changes are intended to make FW-FPs more practical and better aligned with industry assurance programmes, reducing duplication and compliance costs. Many smaller farms that previously would have needed a certified plan will no longer be captured.

Farmers who do require an FW-FP will still need to identify risks to waterways on their property and outline actions to manage them; however, the level of oversight will depend on the farm type, activity, and catchment.

For those that need a Freshwater Farm Plan, click here to learn more about the sector’s most popular freshwater farm planning tool.