Dec 19, 2025
Right now, many councils appear disconnected from farmers and rural communities. Farmers contribute significant amounts in rates, and yet the services they receive rarely meet the needs required to keep their businesses viable. Decisions are frequently made without properly balancing the economic consequences for farming operations against competing interests.
As a small industry body, it can be time-consuming and costly for DINZ to highlight our unique challenges and the implications of new environmental rules without paying a lot of money to participate in the process.
Likewise, many farmers face barriers to providing feedback within council submission processes, including annual and long-term plan reviews, which are public processes that determine how ratepayers' money should be spent.
With a new system being proposed that focuses on stronger direction from central government, this could work in our industry’s favour. DINZ has long argued for more consistency across councils. While it makes sense to have a simpler system of governance and regulation, it is vital that the unique challenges of deer farming are considered.
A new way of managing resources
Resource Management Act (RMA) reform has finally arrived. Under the proposed new resource management system, the bar is being lifted so that only effects on the natural and built environment that could genuinely have a real-world impact are regulated.
Spatial planning is a key change under the new system where trade-offs between environment and land use occur. Property rights are the foundational principle, with effects like visual amenities, effects on landscape, and views from private property expressly out of scope under the new system.
Currently, one of the biggest costs involved in regional plans is the time it takes to complete a plan change. Under the RMA, it can take between 5–7 years to complete a plan change. The new system requires regions to complete regional spatial planning rules and environmental regulations within a year.
Land use planning will be undertaken by territorial authorities, who will have a further year to complete land use planning in each district. Once local plans have been completed, the regional and district plans are put together to form a Regional Combined Plan.
Calls for reform to create greater efficiencies, fairness, and reduced costs have been loud and clear from farmers and industry bodies. Ultimately, reform in this space was inevitable.
DINZ supports reform of how New Zealand manages our natural resources but believe the new system must aim to strengthen the farmers’ voice. Local variation will be very limited and there is a risk that stronger central government control could also mean unworkable rules on the ground if the government of the day put in standards we cannot meet. Under the new system, central government sets the direction – replacing multiple environmental standards and national policy statements to form one document.
"This could really benefit the deer industry as we can put our energy and limited resources into central government engagement and submissions on national direction and standards,” says DINZ Environmental Stewardship Manager Luka Jansen. “Farmers may struggle to be involved in this process, however, as the new system limits the scope of who can participate and submit.”
DINZ has communicated to farmers that freshwater farm plans will provide a better pathway going forward. This is much better than telling farmers what to do on their farms without considering the variables. The government has agreed and announced that freshwater farm plans will be a core solution going forward under the new system.
Submissions close for the Planning and Natural Environment Bill at 4.30pm on Friday 13 February. An individual submission can be lodged via the link below.
Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill - New Zealand Parliament
Local government reform
Public consultation is also open on a proposal to replace regional councillors with Combined Territories Boards, made up of mayors from the respective regions. These boards will be responsible for developing a plan for how the councils in each region can work together more effectively and efficiently.
Important questions should be raised as part of local government reform. How does the proposed structure reflect the balance of influence between communities? What are the benefits and risks of an independent, Crown-appointed commissioner on the local government committees instead of elected members? How does replacing directly elected regional councillors with mayors who weren't elected for regional governance roles improve democratic accountability?
DINZ will consider the proposed changes, how they align with wider government reforms and existing regulations, and what benefits and implications they could have for deer farmers.
Jansen believes that this is a great opportunity for farmers to provide feedback and help shape a system that is fit for purpose, delivering better outcomes for farmers and rural communities.
“How can we provide a more stable future for the next generation of farmers? It’s time to have meaningful conversations what comes next,” Jansen says.
“Voter turnout is declining, and engagement in local government has dropped significantly since 1989 when the current structure was set. What governance model will best serve deer farmers, today and for generations to come?”
We will be back in the new year with more on these reforms, but until then, you can let us know your thoughts on resource management and local government reform at Luka.Jansen@deernz.org
