Resource Management Act 1991

Freshwater farm plans

217L: Relationship between freshwater farm plan and specified instruments

You could also call this:

"How your farm plan rules work with other rules"

Illustration for Resource Management Act 1991

A freshwater farm plan can have rules about what you can do on your farm. These rules can be different from rules in other documents, like a specified instrument. If a specified instrument has stricter rules, you must follow those rules. You might have a freshwater farm plan that says you can do something, but that does not mean you are allowed to do it. You must still follow other rules that apply to what you are doing. If you follow the rules in your freshwater farm plan, you might also be meeting rules in other documents. If a specified instrument has rules that are stricter than your freshwater farm plan, the specified instrument's rules are more important. You can find more information about the Resource Management Act and its amendments on the New Zealand legislation website and here.

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This page was last updated on 2 December 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS376088.

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Farming and fishingBusiness > Industry rules

217KA: Minister may approve industry organisation to provide certification or audit services, or

"The Minister can choose an industry group to check freshwater farm plans if they meet the rules."

217M: Regulations relating to freshwater farm plans, or

"Rules to help keep freshwater clean and healthy on farms"

Part 9AFreshwater farm plans

217LRelationship between freshwater farm plan and specified instruments

A freshwater farm plan may contain a requirement that—
relates to an activity carried out on the farm (an activity) even if there is no similar requirement relating to that activity in a provision of a specified instrument:
restricts an activity more than a provision of a specified instrument.

However, if a provision of a specified instrument restricts an activity more than a requirement of a freshwater farm plan, the provision of the specified instrument prevails.
To avoid doubt, compliance with a requirement of a certified freshwater farm plan—
does not of itself authorise a person to undertake an activity:
may be specified or included as a requirement or condition in any specified instrument relating to an activity.

Notes

Section 217L: inserted, on 1 July 2020, by section 64 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 30).
Section 217L heading: amended, on 21 August 2025, by section 69(1) of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 41).
Section 217L(1): amended, on 21 August 2025, by section 69(2) of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 41).