Here's all the information about the rules around agricultural intensification.
What is agricultural intensification?
Agricultural intensification includes conversions of plantation forestry to pastoral land use and any land to dairy farmland. Intensification can lead to higher levels of nutrients, sediment and microbial contamination in our rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater.
The regulations
Regulations to control the effects of agricultural intensification were introduced in the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020 (NES-FW) as part of the Government’s Essential Freshwater reforms and came into effect on 3 September 2020.
As of 1 January 2025, these regulations were revoked and no longer apply.
This means that resource consent is no longer required under the NES-FW for the conversion of non-dairy land to dairy farmland, however a consent may still be required under our Regional Freshwater Plan.
If you are unsure or require clarification, please seek advice from Council on this matter at consents@trc.govt.nz
Please note:
If you are considering extending your dairy platform and land use, you will need to ensure that your system to discharge effluent and storage facilities have capacity to allow for additional animal numbers.
If you have a current Dairy Discharge consent, you may need to apply to Change the Conditions of your resource consent to allow for the increase in animal numbers (Form 103).
Application forms can be located here: https://www.trc.govt.nz/online-services/consents/consent-forms