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.

The Waikato Region Council have completed a Freshwater Farm Plan to to give farmers and rural professionals a clear, practical example of how these farm plans work. This plan is for a dry stock farm in the Waipā area.

They created this example using QCONZ’s FWFP digital planning tool. The plan includes details about the local catchment, information about different areas of the property, environmental risk assessments, maps, and the actions planned.

Whether you’re preparing your own plan or helping others with theirs, this example should give you a good sense of what’s involved.

New research from Lincoln University provides reassurance for dairy farmers concerned about the impact of freshwater regulations. The study has found no significant negative effect on land values or farm profitability, contrary to early fears.

Over the past few months, the Ballance sustainability team has been running regionally tailored workshops to support farmers in building NZFAP-Plus aligned plans. Backed by The Deer Industry (DINZ), Rabobank, and ANZCO, the workshops have focused on giving farmers practical, hands-on support; something that has been well received.

Each session was shaped around local catchment needs and had a high facilitator to participant ratio to make sure that farmers got the help they needed while working on their plans.

We have been working with some catchment groups as our FWFP tool helps their members build their own freshwater farm plans on our online platform. It also allows catchment coordinators to get catchment level reports that aggregate their catchment information.

These groups have been doing wonderful work improving water quality through collective farmer action. With the change in government, the funding for these groups has become less certain. Any loss of funding will slow the momentum that has been built up here – which no one wants. 

It was pleasing to see Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard recently say that the catchment group model is the best way of meeting sustainability goals.

Hoggard said the government is looking at how it can ensure catchment groups are at the centre of environmental efforts and that work is being carried out to define what a catchment group is and what it is expected to do, and funding will follow.

Read the full story here: https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/politics/catchment-group-funding-just-over-the-horizon/

Rollout Paused for System Improvements
The New Zealand Government has paused the rollout of freshwater farm plans as of October 2024. This decision was made to allow time for improvements to the system, aiming to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers.

Regional Implementation
Some regions had already begun rolling out the requirements, including Waikato, Southland, the West Coast, Otago, and Manawatū-Whanganui. However, with the national pause, no new plans will need to be submitted for certification until the system improvements are finalised.

Improvements Being Made to the Freshwater Farm Plan System
The New Zealand Government is undertaking several key improvements to the freshwater farm plan (FWFP) system to address concerns about cost, complexity, and practicality for farmers and councils. The main changes under consideration or already announced include:

•  Reducing the Number of Farms Required to Have a Plan
  The government intends to limit the requirement for freshwater farm plans to higher-risk properties, meaning fewer farms will need to complete a plan. This approach is designed to ensure that regulatory effort is focused where it will have the greatest environmental benefit, rather than applying blanket rules to all farm types and sizes.
•  Adopting a Risk-Based Approach to Certification
  Certification and auditing requirements will be matched to the actual environmental risk posed by the farm. Low-risk operations, such as many sheep and beef farms, may be exempt or face lighter requirements, while higher-risk activities will be more closely managed.
•  Recognising Existing Industry Assurance Programmes
  The system will acknowledge and integrate existing industry environment plans and assurance programmes that already deliver equivalent environmental outcomes. This will reduce duplication and administrative burden, so farmers do not have to complete multiple plans for different regulatory or market requirements.
• Streamlining and Reducing Costs
  The government is committed to making the process of developing, certifying, and auditing FWFPs less costly and time-consuming. The aim is for the cost and effort required to be proportionate to the risk and complexity of each farm, avoiding unnecessary red tape.
•  Providing Alternatives to Local Council Rules and Consents
  Where appropriate, certified FWFPs may serve as an alternative to certain local council rules and resource consents, giving farmers more flexibility in how they meet environmental requirements and reducing the need for multiple regulatory processes.
• Supporting Catchment-Level and Farm-Specific Solutions
  The improvements will encourage more local, catchment-focused solutions, allowing plans to be tailored to the unique environmental challenges and opportunities of each area. Catchment groups may be given a greater leadership role in developing and implementing these plans.
•  Ongoing Collaboration and Consultation
  Officials are working closely with industry groups, regional councils, and Māori to ensure the new system is practical, effective, and reflects the diversity of New Zealand’s farming systems. Further details and final regulations are being developed through this collaborative process.

QCONZ View
We welcome a low-cost, pragmatic approach that recognises farmers achievements to date and the incorporation of industry schemes. We support the principle of a risk-based approach, but the devil is in the detail – many of which have yet to be resolved.
Like many in the sector, we are concerned that without clear direction from the Government some of the great work, goodwill, and momentum achieved by catchment groups across the country could be lost. We hope these groups remain well supported going forward, as their collaborative nature has been proven to be a very effective approach to improving farm environmental practices.

More information:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/agriculture/farm-management-the-environment-and-land-use/protecting-freshwater-health/freshwater-farm-plans/

In a pair of press releases, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay update the Government’s progress on simplifying Freshwater Farm Plans. Although light on detail, these releases signal that activity is underway.

10/04 – https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/freshwater-farm-plan-systems-be-improved

16/04 – https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-moves-improve-freshwater-farm-plans

Teaching the Bachelor of Environmental Science degree at the University of Canterbury, Professor Ann Brower is shaping the future of environmental science and resource management. One of her key teaching strategies is providing students with hands-on experience in freshwater farm planning – as critical component of sustainable environmental management.

To enhance their learning, Ann recently introduced the QCONZ FWFP tool, a decision inspired by a conversation with a farm environmental consultant at the Environmental Defence Society Conference. He told her he used the QCONZ FWFP tool for freshwater farm planning and described it as easy to use and rapidly becoming the industry standard. Intrigued, Ann reached out to QCONZ to learn more and soon decided to integrate it into her curriculum.

“It worked quite well,” Ann shares. “It was a good fit because it could handle multiple logins. The students appreciated its methodical and systematic approach to identifying risk areas and managing farm environments. They genuinely enjoyed using it.”

The impact of this change extends beyond the classroom. While students initially see the tool as just another workshop exercise, their perspective shifts once they enter the workforce. “After their internships, they recognize its real-world relevance. And in job interviews, when they mention experience in farm environmental planning, employers respond with ‘Oh, yes please!’” says Ann.
Tillie King, a 4th year Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours student at UC was positive, “I think farm planning and learning about the tools available are super important to learn as budding environmental scientists. It was brand new to me that there were these types of tools available, and I think it is important to learn about why farm planning is important and how it can be beneficial. Using these tools as teaching tools has been a great experience, and I think it provides very useful skills and knowledge to take into the workplace and beyond.”

For Justin Moss, GM of Information Technology at QCONZ, this feedback is invaluable. “We love working with University of Canterbury on this. Seeing our tool play a role in educating the next generation of environmental professionals is incredibly rewarding.” He also acknowledges the dedicated QCONZ FWFP team, whose hard work has helped shape the FWFP tool into an essential industry resource.