The adoption of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management comes into force on 1 July 2012.  This is particularly significant for dairy farmers undertaking activities which may require a resource consent.  The Freshwater Policy Statement is one of a range of measures developed by the government to deal with long term water allocation issues.

Under the Resource Management Act (RMA) the government can develop and implement national policy statements to deal with pressures on national resources (such as water, electricity and biodiversity) and to provide for the long-term management of those resources.  The Freshwater Policy Statement seeks to set enforceable quantity and quality limits for water resources within New Zealand as part of an overall objective of managing water resources in a sustainable way.

The Freshwater Policy Statement directs all Regional Councils to give effect to policies aimed at managing water resources.  These policies concern water quality and water quantity, and anticipate gradual changes to water allocations to avoid over-allocation of freshwater resources.  When considering an application for a resource consent for a new activity, or for a change in the scale or intensity of an activity, the Regional Council must take the Freshwater Policy Statement into account.

Dairying, like most intensive land uses, can impact on water quality and water environments.  Initiatives like the Clean Streams Accord (a partnership between Fonterra, Regional Councils, the Ministry for the Environment and MAF) recognise that the on-going intensification of existing dairy farms and the expansion of dairying into new regions have increased the importance of addressing impacts on water environments. In this context, the Freshwater Policy Statement represents another means to address the environmental impact of rural activities and ensure the long-term sustainability of natural resources.

If you would like to know more about the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, or discuss the impacts of the Freshwater Policy Statement on resource consent applications, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at our offices.