EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Central Government Water Policy

The Ministry for the Environment released a National Environmental Statement and National Policy Statement for consultation in September. NZKGI reviewed this information to assess impacts for kiwifruit growers and drafted a submission along with consultation with the Water Strategy Working Groups, the NZKGI Forum, Growers, Maori Kiwifruit Growers Forum and HortNZ. You can read the submission here.

The Proposal – What you would need to do by 2026:

1. Have a Freshwater Module of a Farm Plan that addresses freshwater

The freshwater module will identify risks to the health of freshwater from land where you are growing (or plan to) and identify what you will do to reduce any current contamination and improve water health going forward.

− All growers will need a freshwater module of a farm plan by 2025, except those with orchards 5ha and under and orchards in at risk catchments (orchards in at risk catchments will require a freshwater module two years within start date of the policy becoming operative). We are considering a one for all approach with the freshwater module which would mean all orchards would require a freshwater module of a farm plan – regardless of size.

2. Report on water usage using telemetry – if using more than 5 litres per second

Reporting on water use of 5 litres per second or more has been a regulatory requirement since 2016 however the type of reporting model used has been adhoc and Councils are struggling, at times, to understand data. This requirement will mean that growers whose water take is 5 litres per second, or more will be required to use a telemetry system

3. Apply for a resource consent for increase of production area

A resource consent will be required when the area of land used for irrigation production increases by 10 ha or more from the start date of the policy becoming operative

4. Protection of wetlands

This rule only applies to growers with wetlands. The proposed rule looks at setbacks that limits vegetation destruction, earth disturbance and water take activities from happening

5. Reduce excessive nitrogen leaching

This will only apply to orchards in at risk catchments. Proposed rules are to manage excessive nitrogen leaching by a national nitrogen fertiliser cap or through the freshwater module of a farm plan.

At risk catchments:

Catchment name                            Region

Taharua River                                       Hawke’s Bay (7 orchards)

Waipao Stream                                     Northland (38 orchards)

Mataura River                                       Southland

Oreti River                                             Southland

Waimatuku Stream                              Southland

Aparima River                                       Southland

Waihopai River                                     Southland

Waingongoro River                              Taranaki

Motupipi River                                     Tasman Region (1 orchard)

Piako River                                            Waikato Region (5 orchards)

Waihou River                                        Waikato Region (42 orchards)

Parkvale Stream                                   Wellington

Upper Rangitaiki and                          Bay of Plenty   (upstream of their confluence only)
Otangimoana Rivers