National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL) 

The NPS-HPL aims to ensure highly productive land is protected for use in land-based primary production, both now and for future generations. It came into effect in October 2022.  The NPS-HPL provides requirements and guidance to Councils on how to map and zone highly productive land and manage the subdivision, use and development of this land as a non-renewable resource. 

The NPS-HPL is very prescriptive and this poses a lot of challenges for both Councils and for the food and fibre sector across New Zealand. Highly productive land will need to be mapped in regional policy statements within three years of the NPS-HPL coming into effect. Plan changes to district plans to give effect to the NPS-HPL (amendments to objectives, policies and rules) are required no later than two years after maps of highly productive land in the relevant regional policy statement become operative. In the meantime, the NPS-HPL must be considered for any resource consent applications as a higher order policy document. Watch this space for how this one plays out. You can find out more about the NPS-HPL on the MfE website: https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/national-policy-statements/national-policy-statement-highly-productive-land/  

Freshwater Farm Plans (FW-FPs) - regulations now gazetted 

The final version of the FW-FP regulations have now been published by the Government and will come into effect over the next 18 months across New Zealand. Waikato and Southland are the first regions where the regulations will be ‘switched on’ from 1 August. You can find out more information on the MfE website: Freshwater farm plans | Ministry for the Environment