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The Environment Court has directed Waikato Regional Council to make 20 specific changes to finalise a landmark plan to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waipā rivers.
The Environment Court has directed Waikato Regional Council to make 20 specific changes to finalise a landmark plan to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waipā rivers.
The decision on proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 (PC1) was issued by the court on Monday, 8 June, giving the council until 21 July to make the changes.
Once the court confirms the amendments meet its intent, the plan will be finalised.
Appeals on the court's decision, limited to matters of law, are only able to be made to the High Court.
Chris McLay, Waikato Regional Council chief executive, says the decision marks a significant milestone in the 13-year process of the plan's development.
“The Environment Court process is finally nearing an end. This decision is yet another step closer to providing clarity and certainty for farmers and growers in the Waikato and Waipā river catchments on their obligations for meeting the new rule framework,” he says.
“This decision is detailed and highly technical because of its significance in setting up the framework for the policies and rules, and time will be needed for staff to fully review the 217-page decision and respond to the directions by the July deadline," says science, policy and information director Tracey May.
The majority of court directions are very explicit, however there are a number of the directions that will require expert consideration, she says.
May says the way the decision has been framed, it is important that it is read in conjunction with the two previously released interim court decisions (in May 2025 and February 2026).
She says the ruling sets clear expectations for the support needed for ongoing implementation work.
“It gives us a stronger foundation for implementation, including the emphasis on practical guidance and support for farmers and growers.”
PC1 is designed as the first step in a long-term strategy to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waipā river catchments.
It is a change to the Waikato Regional Plan, developed with the community, to allow for the management of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and bacteria in the Waikato and Waipā rivers.
A total of 24 appeals were lodged with the Environment Court, covering over 1000 points, in 2020.
South Waikato farmer David Christensen was convicted and fined $56,000 for two unlawful discharges of dairy effluent following a prosecution taken by Waikato Regional Council. The fine was imposed by Judge Melinda Dickey from the Huntly District Court after Christensen plead guilty to two charges under the Resource Management Act.
A contract milker and a dairy farm owner have been convicted and fined a combined $66,500 for the unlawful discharge of dairy shed effluent and stockfeed leachate into the environment.
A Waihi dairy farmer, Keith Torrens, has been convicted and fined $39,000 for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent following a prosecution taken by Waikato Regional Council.
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.
Rawhiti Environmental Park Limited has been convicted on eight charges and fined a total of $437,000 for persistent discharges of raw piggery effluent into the environment between February and October 2023.
Forestry Minister Todd McClay has today congratulated the winners of the 2026 Growing Native Forests Champions Awards at Fieldays.
The Government has announced $60,000 to provide one-off grants of $1,000 to each of the 60 New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) clubs across the country.
New Zealand’s rural sector has once again demonstrated its generosity, with the second Rural Industry Leaders Dinner, Debate and Auction raising an impressive $400,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
There has been another twist to the Federated Farmers annual election fiasco.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.
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