The National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020 included regulations which applied to the intensification of agricultural activities. Under these regulations consent was required to:

• increase your irrigation by more than 10ha
• convert more than 10 ha to dairy farm
• increase the area of your dairy support land
• convert more than 10 ha of forestry to pasture

These regulations were revoked on 31 December 2024.

If you are wanting to carryout any of the activities above, these regulations relating to agricultural intensification no longer apply however consideration of the relevant rules in the Regional Plans for Otago will be required.

The following two rules under the Otago Water Plan may be relevant to these activities:

• Any discharge from land that has been disturbed by stock, where sediment reaches a water body or the Coastal Marine Area, that doesn’t have a sediment mitigation is prohibited. (RPW 12.c.0.3)
• The discharge of sediment that results in an increase to the local sedimentation or has a conspicuous change of colour or clarity in a river, lake or wetland is not permitted. (RPW 12.c.1.1)