Photo: RNZThe High Court has ruled Canterbury's regional council erred when it allowed farms to discharge nitrates and other pollution without resource consents, but stopped short of ordering it to change the rule. Council's rule-making found lackingJustice Mander found the regional council, Environment Canterbury (ECan), failed to properly consider and apply section 70 of the Resource Management Act (RMA) when it included the rule allowing some farming nutrient discharges as permitted activities. The rule - rule 5.63 (Incidental Nutrient Discharges) - had "cemented the conditions for ongoing intensive farming even as nitrate pollution was already mounting", Hall said. The organisation sought the removal of the rule, as well as other declarations about the law, but the court declined. RNZ has approached the regional council for comment.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 24, 2025 20:26 UTC