Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Resource Management Act 1991

Freshwater farm plans

217D: Farm must have freshwater farm plan if it meets land use threshold

You could also call this:

"Farms with lots of land must have a freshwater plan to help keep water clean."

Illustration for Resource Management Act 1991

If you have a farm, you must have a freshwater farm plan if your farm meets certain rules. You need a plan if you have 50 or more hectares of pastoral, arable, or mixed land use, or 50 or more hectares of viticultural or orcharding land use. You also need a plan if you have 5 or more hectares of horticultural land use, other than viticultural or orcharding land use.

If your farm has a certain type of land use prescribed in regulations made under section 217M(1)(b), or if your farm has a Dairy Supply Number, you must have a freshwater farm plan. However, there are some exceptions to these rules, which can be found in orders made under section 217C(2A)(a) or section 217C(2A)(b). Your freshwater farm plan must cover your entire farm.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS375849.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Farming and fishingEnvironment and resources > ConservationHousing and property > Food and water safety
Previous

217CA: When this Part ceases to apply, or

"When the law stops applying to an area in New Zealand"

Next

217E: Main duties of farm operators, or

"Rules for farm owners to protect the environment and follow the law"

Part 9AFreshwater farm plans

217DFarm must have freshwater farm plan if it meets land use threshold

  1. A farm must have a freshwater farm plan if—

  2. 50 or more hectares of the farm is pastoral, arable, or mixed land use; or
    1. 50 or more hectares of the farm is viticultural or orcharding land use; or
      1. 5 or more hectares of the farm is horticultural land use other than viticultural or orcharding land use; or
        1. a prescribed area of the farm is other agricultural land use prescribed in regulations made under section 217M(1)(b); or
          1. the farm holds a Dairy Supply Number.

            1. However,—

            2. if an order made under section 217C(2A)(a) disapplies a statutory land use area threshold, a farm is not subject to that threshold; and
              1. if an order made under section 217C(2A)(b) disapplies a statutory land use area threshold and prescribes a higher land use area threshold in its place, a farm is subject to the higher threshold.

                1. A freshwater farm plan applies to the entire farm.

                Notes
                • Section 217D: inserted, on , by section 64 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 30).
                • Section 217D heading: amended, on , by section 62(1) of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 41).
                • Section 217D(1): replaced, on , by section 62(2) of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 41).
                • Section 217D(1A): inserted, on , by section 805(4) of the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 (2023 No 46).
                • Section 217D(2): amended, on , by section 62(3) of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 41).