The Government is working to improve the freshwater farm plan system and will be exploring ways to make the system more cost-effective and practical. Freshwater Farm Plans will remain in place, with an increase in the farm size threshold, and the ability for Industries to handle Freshwater Farm Plan certification and audits, as part of their assurance programme. The timing of implementation is still paused while the work progresses on the RMA reform process and are expected to be in place later in 2026. Council will communicate any changes once they are known.
A Freshwater Farm Plan will identify risks to freshwater from activities carried out on farms and identify practical on-farm actions for managing and mitigating those risks to improve water quality in local waterways. Actions will be tailored to a particular farm’s physical environment, farming activities and the catchment the farm is located in.
