Freshwater Farm Plans

Freshwater Farm Plans: What's changing?

On 19 August, the Government announced a number of changes to the Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP) system. These changes are intended to make FWFPs more practical and reduce compliance costs, while maintaining a focus on managing freshwater risks. It is expected these changes will be finalised in the coming months.

DairyNZ welcomes changes that simplify the system, reduce unnecessary auditing and better recognise existing industry plans.

DairyNZ is reviewing the details and will continue to update this page as further information becomes available.

Key changes at a glance

• Most dairy farms are expected to require a Freshwater Farm Plan.
• Certification will last six years instead of five.
• Only one scheduled audit during each six-year cycle of the plan in the 2nd to 3rd year.
• Audits will use a pass/fail approach with some time to fix any identified issues.
• Farm mapping requirements will be simplified, with only maps relevant to the action plan needed.
• Government intends to recognise approved industry assurance programmes, although details are still being developed.

Who will need a certified Freshwater Farm Plan?

Certification will only be required for those farms who meet the triggers, including:

• Grazing dairy cattle.
• Commercial vegetable growing.
• Grazing pigs.
• Intensive winter grazing on more than 50 hectares or more than 10% of the farm (whichever is greater).
• Irrigating pastoral or arable land on more than 50 hectares or more than 10% of the farm (whichever is greater).
• The use of land on a farm for stockholding areas.
• Farm is within a catchment prescribed in regulations.

For dairy farmers, this means most dairy farms are expected to require a Freshwater Farm Plan.

Under the revised system, certification may apply only to the activity or part of the farm that triggers the certification requirement. However, an uncertified part of a plan cannot be used in place of a consent or permit or to meet another regulatory requirement.

What’s the difference between an existing FEP and a Freshwater Farm Plan?

Many dairy farmers already have a Farm Environment Plan through their dairy company, regional council, or another industry programme. Information and work from an existing plan can be used as the basis for a Freshwater Farm Plan, so farmers should not need to start again.

A Freshwater Farm Plan is part of the national regulatory system. Any existing Farm Environment Plan will not automatically be a certified Freshwater Farm Plan.

Depending on the farm and the requirements that apply, an existing plan may need to be updated to include:

• relevant catchment-context information;
• an assessment of freshwater risks on the farm;
• actions to manage those risks, including actions linked to regulatory requirements; and
• any other information required under the Freshwater Farm Plan regulations.

Where certification and auditing are required, the audit will assess whether the actions recorded in the plan have been implemented.

Industry organisation pathway

The Government intends to allow eligible industry organisations, including dairy companies, to provide Freshwater Farm Plan certification through their existing programmes. The appointment, recognition, and transition arrangements are still being finalised.

What is still being worked through?

Some aspects of the new system are still being developed, including:

• When the national roll out of FWFPs will start.
• How the five-year national rollout will operate.
• How industry assurance programmes will be formally recognised.
• How certifiers will have their competencies assessed and appointed.
• How Freshwater Farm Plans will interact with future National Policy Direction.