Ministers Letters

Freshwater Farm Plans Review

Date letter sent:	5 March 2024
Letter sent to:	Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister for the Environment Hon Andrew Hoggard, Associate Minister for the Environment Hon Todd McClay, Minister for Agriculture Hon Mark Patterson, Minister for Rural Communities Hon Chris Bishop, Minister Responsible RMA Reform
Key Issue	Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Federated Farmers) support the Government’s stated intention to replace the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM). We strongly believe farm plans have an important role to play in the replacement of this framework and could act as a cornerstone provision for delivering meaningful improvements in freshwater quality and other environmental outcomes. With the right settings, farm plans could remove frustrating duplication, remove the need for farmers to obtain expensive and time-consuming consents, and be a positive enabler of environmental improvement. The current Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP) framework does not currently provide for practical, cost effective or workable environmental solutions. Significant changes would be needed to achieve change in the most effective and efficient way for farmers and the environment.

Letter to Minister
(Adobe PDF File)