Freshwater Farm Plans

Te whakaaetaka me te tautukuka Consents and Compliance

Freshwater farm plans are a practical way for farmers and growers to identify, manage and reduce the impact of farming on the freshwater environment.

They were introduced in 2020 as part of the Government’s Freshwater Package and will be required in parts of the Waikato and Southland regions from 1 August 2023 with rollout in parts of Otago to begin 1 February 2024.

With New Zealand’s food production dependent on freshwater, Freshwater Farm Plans will build on the work of many farmers who are identifying and reducing risks of farming activities on freshwater and ecosystems.

Pause on freshwater farm plans

On 3 September 2024, the Government announced an official pause in the rollout of freshwater farm plans to allow time for changes to the system.

The pause aims to provide time for freshwater farm plans to be made more cost effective and practical for farmers in managing freshwater risks

This Government backs farm plans as a useful tool in the toolkit and we are continuing to work with them on the design and implementation of an improved system.

However, Government would like to consider changes to the freshwater farm plan system to make it more cost effective and practical for farmers and growers.

You can read the announcement in this press release.

To find out more about what this means, you can visit our FAQs or read our latest Freshwater farm plans newsletters.

What is a Freshwater Farm Plan?

Freshwater Farm Plans will support on-farm actions to protect eco-systems.

They must include:

maps identifying waterways and wetlands
any contaminant discharges
any risks to freshwater wetlands and ecosystems from activities such as irrigation, nutrient application, effluent, winter grazing, stock-holding areas, stock exclusion, offal pits or farm landfills
actions to mitigate these risks

They will be tailored to the individual farming or growing enterprise and the farm’s unique surrounding environment and will be certified and audited.

We know looking after the environment is important to farmers, and farm plans will support this in a targeted and site-specific way.

Getting started

There are some simple steps to ensure you’re on the right track to completing your freshwater farm plan.

Freshwater farm plan FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding freshwater farm plans.

Freshwater Farm Plans newsletter

What does this mean for farmers?

Many Otago farmers, industry professionals, growers, and catchment groups are already leading the way in global farming practices, including local actions to support and enhance the health of our waterways, land and wetlands, and we commend these efforts.

All farms with the following land uses will require a freshwater farm plan:

20 hectares or more in arable or pastoral use
Five hectares or more in horticultural use
20 hectares or more of combined use

We urge you to start thinking about developing your own freshwater farm plan.

The plans will be property-specific and give farmers the flexibility to find the right solutions for their farm and catchment area.

Once certified and audited, Freshwater Farm Plans will need to be recertified within 5 years after their last certification. Over time, these plans are expected to become an important tool for farmers and growers to manage all their on-farm freshwater regulatory requirements.

How ORC will support farmers

ORC and its staff are here to fully support this implementation. In the months ahead, staff will be available to help on the phone or in person, and we propose to run meetings, workshops and one-on-ones with farmers to answer any questions.

ORC will work closely with sector groups, iwi, farmers and industry on the implementation of these regulations.

Freshwater farm plans will be flexible because one size will not fit all. It’s about applying the best available information and risk mitigation at the farm level, in the context of the surrounding catchment’s needs.

ORC will provide the relevant catchment information; context, challenges and values which farm operators will need to develop Freshwater Farm Plans across the region.

To do this we will need the help and support of you in our communities.

If you would like to organise a workshop with us for your group, please email us at: farmplans@orc.govt.nz

Got any questions around these plans or would like to discuss the topic further? Call 0800 474 082.

Order of the Otago roll-out

The roll out of freshwater farm plans is being phased in a few regions at a time and began on 1 August 2023 in Southland and Waikato.

Otago, the West Coast and parts of Manawatū-Whanganui were listed in the second phase of the national roll-out which began 1 February 2024.

For Otago, the roll-out will follow the boundaries of the ORC's existing five freshwater Management Units (FMU)/rohe (areas).

Following the pause on freshwater farm plans the Otago rollout is likely to continue in the same order as proposed in the table below, beginning with North Otago.

Order	Anticipated number of farms	Approximate hectares covered by freshwater farm plans*
North Otago FMU**	756	256,264
Lower Clutha Rohe***	821	337,328
Upper Lakes Rohe, Dunstan Rohe, Manuherekia Rohe, Roxburgh Rohe	913	1,033,254
Taiari/Taieri FMU	520	484,782
Catlins FMU	185	83,944
Dunedin and Coast FMU	342	86,339

*Note that some of these measurements cover farms which are across FMU boundaries and incorporate parts of farms
**Otago is divided into five Freshwater Management Units (FMU). An FMU is an area around a water body or multiple water bodies of a manageable size where freshwater objectives and limits will be set.
***Rohe means 'area' in te reo and is used to define distinct areas within a larger FMU.

North Otago FMU:

From the Waitaki River in the north, down through Oamaru and Palmerston townships, to the bottom of the southern branch of the Waikouaiti River; and including parts of the lower Waitaki Plains; and Trotters Creek and the Kakanui, Shag, Waikouaiti, Waianakarua, and Pleasant Rivers.

Lower Clutha Rohe:

The part of the Clutha/Mata-au FMU known as Lower Clutha Rohe includes the Pomahaka catchment; and several other river catchments that feed the Clutha/Mata-au River, including the Waitahuna, Waiwera, Tuapeka, and Waipahi catchments.

Upper Lakes Rohe:

The area covering the lakes of Whakatipu, Wānaka, and Hāwea, from their tributaries to their outlets.

Dunstan Rohe:

The area running from the outlets of Lakes Wānaka, Whakatipu, and Hāwea south to the Clyde Dam and including the Kawarau, Nevis, Shotover, Upper Clutha/Mata-au, Hāwea, Cardrona, Arrow, and Lindis Rivers and many smaller tributaries of the Clutha/Mata-au River such as the Lowburn, Amisfield Burn, Bannock Burn, and Luggate Creek.

Manuherekia Rohe:

The area located between the Dunstan Range to the west, the St Bathans Range to the north, the Hawkdun Range and Rough Ridge to the east, and the Knobby Range to the south.

Roxburgh Rohe:

The area extending from the Clyde Dam to Beaumont; and covering Alexandra, Clyde, and Roxburgh; and including tributaries of the Clutha/Mata-au River, such as the Fraser River (also known as the Earnscleugh), Benger Burn, and Teviot and Beaumont Rivers.

Taiari/Taieri FMU:

The area covering the entire Taieri River catchment, reaching from Taieri Mouth across the Taieri Plain into the Strath Taieri and Maniototo Basins.

Catlins FMU:

The area located along the southern coast of Otago Region including the Catlins, Ōwaka, Maclennan, and Tahakopa Rivers.

Dunedin & Coast FMU:

The area running from just south of Karitane down to the mouth of the Clutha/Mata-au River and including the Waitati River, Leith Stream, and Kaikorai Stream catchments within Dunedin city; and the Tokomairaro (Tokomairiro) River in the south.

Each of the above areas in Otago will have 18 months to submit their freshwater farm plan following their phase-in date.

Ministry for the Environment (MfE) expects about 34,500 freshwater farm plans to be in place across the country eventually.