Freshwater regulations will allow 3m planting setback from streams instead of 5m originally proposed. OPINION: The much-anticipated National Policy Statement on freshwater was released last week and contained significant changes that are good news for farmers. There is universal acknowledgement that quality freshwater was an imperative both for the social values we place on water as Kiwis and as a long-term underpinning of our primary exports which trade on a brand of environmental provenance. While 70 per cent of rural waterways already meet the proposed criteria, for others it would have meant severely reducing pastoral farming altogether to meet an arbitrary number. From New Zealand First’s perspective - all pragmatic steps in the right direction.

Source: Stuff June 03, 2020 00:00 UTC