National sets out plan to double exports by 2034

A national standard for farm plans will give farmers one practical, consistent, risk-based way to identify and manage environmental risks on their land. This will ensure approaches to farm plans don’t differ wildly from council to council.

A national standard for vegetable growing, including making it a permitted activity when certain conditions are met, will give growers certainty to keep producing the fresh food that feeds our country.

We value on-farm storage and want more of it, built well. A national standard will make it easier to build low-risk water storage, like ponds and small dams, to help farmers and growers get through dry periods.

Responsible gravel extraction can reduce the flood risk and provide a local source of aggregate. A national standard will allow farmers to remove gravel from rivers under clear, consistent conditions that protect ecosystem health.

Consents can be required for certain types of on-farm drain maintenance, adding cost and complexity. A national standard for drain maintenance will let farmers clear and maintain their existing drains without navigating confusing, fragmented rules.

A national standard for effluent management will set clear nationwide requirements for the storage and application of farm effluent. This will ensure there are consistent best practice rules so farmers can realise on-farm benefits while still protecting the environment.

A national standard for fertiliser application will set consistent rules for using fertiliser in a way that supports productivity while protecting waterways.

Small-scale on-farm quarries provide gravel, sand, and rock required to build and maintain important infrastructure. A national standard for farm quarries will let farmers extract rock and aggregate from their own land without consenting processes rendering this uneconomic.

Wetland rules are confusing and have led to significant amounts of uncertainty and litigation in the past. A national standard for wetlands will make it simpler for farmers, removing the red tape in the way of doing the right thing.

We will make small-scale on-farm ground-mounted solar, as well as rooftop solar, permitted activities with standard rules to manage genuine effects and sensible safeguards to protect land that is environmentally significant.

A national standard for small run-of-river micro-hydro will help farmers generate the power they need to run their businesses, using the water they already have on their property.

A national standard for energy storage will let farmers install batteries and other storage that support on-farm energy generation and resilience.

A national standard for Irrigation will make consenting easier for farmers and growers, providing them with a set of nationally consistent rules so that irrigation systems are designed and operated in accordance with recognised best practice, improving efficiency and environmental protection.

A national standard for small-scale seasonal-worker accommodation, modelled off our successful granny-flats standards, will make it easier for farmers and growers to house the workers they need at peak times.

A national standard for farm tracks will let farmers build and maintain access tracks, with sensible controls on erosion and sediment.

A national standard for agricultural aviation will provide consistent rules for airstrips, aerial topdressing and spraying, which Kiwis rely on for both farming and conservation efforts.

A national standard for culverts will set clear requirements for installing and replacing basic culverts so stock and vehicles can cross waterways safely, without the costly red-tape.

A national standard for offal holes will give farmers clear, consistent rules for disposing of dead stock and offal on farm without the need for a consent.

A re-worked national standard for managing contaminated soils will give farmers a consistent, pragmatic approach to dealing with legacy contamination on their property while still ensuring the land is safe to use.