CountryWide CONNECT

Planning system changes to better reflect real-world farming and food production

Freshwater farm plan system to be simplified and risk-based

Pāmu posts strongest operating result on record


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Planning system changes to better reflect real-world farming and food production
The Government has announced targeted changes to its new planning legislation to make it more practical for farmers and growers, covering environmental limits, seasonal activities, water infrastructure and freshwater consenting.
Key changes include extending what counts as an existing use from six to twelve months — better reflecting seasonal activities like crop rotation — and classifying water storage and distribution as long-lived infrastructure, meaning permits will run for a minimum of thirty-five years rather than shorter timeframes.
The environmental limits framework is also being simplified, removing resource cap provisions and making action plans the primary tool for managing resource use when limits are at risk of being breached.
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says the changes make the planning bills more workable without altering their overall direction — faster, clearer and more enabling while protecting the natural environment.

Freshwater farm plan system to be simplified and risk-based
Freshwater farm plans are part of the change, moving to a risk-based system that will reduce costs and compliance requirements for many farmers.
Under the new approach, certification and auditing will only be required where higher-risk activities are carried out — including dairy farming, grazing pigs, commercial vegetable growing and feedlots. Sheep and beef farms will only need certification if they carry out intensive winter grazing or have irrigation on more than fifty hectares or ten percent of the farm.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers told the Government the current system was too costly and complicated for the risk involved on many properties. All farms meeting the size threshold will still need to prepare and hold a plan and declare it to their council — but lower-risk operations will not need certification or auditing.
Farmers will have five years from when the system switches on to have plans certified, with re-certification only required every six years and one audit in that cycle.

Pāmu posts strongest operating result on record
State-owned farming company Pāmu has delivered its strongest operating result on record, with net operating profit more than doubling to one-hundred-and-thirteen million dollars in the year to June — up from forty-nine million the previous year.
Net profit after tax reached one-hundred-and-sixty million dollars, while net debt was reduced by thirty-six million dollars. Dividend payments of twenty-five million dollars were made during the year, with a further fifteen million to follow in early 2027.
Milk production reached fifteen-point-eight million kilograms of milk solids — up 1.8 million kilograms on last year — while dairy cost of production fell four percent to seven-oh-six per kilogram of milk solids.
Chief executive Mark Leslie says the result belongs to Pāmu's farm teams, reflecting years of improved production, cost control and on-farm decision-making rather than just favourable commodity prices.
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This episode features Dave Worsley & Graeme "Sportsfreak" Beasley discussing a preview of this weekend’s sport.

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This episode features Jaiden Drought, President, Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) discussing the latest trends in the machinery sector, including tractor sales being up.

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This episode features Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment discussing access for Kiwi products into Vietnam and farm plan changes.

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This episode features Mark Leslie, CEO, Pāmu discussing the organisation’s FY26 results and what they reveal about the performance of its farming operations.

WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command ‘Play CountryWide Connect’ on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

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