Growers unhappy with Waikato Regional Council

The six organisations- Horticulture New Zealand, Federated Farmers, Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association, Waikato and Waipa branches of the New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association, Primary Land Users Group, and Beef + Lamb

New Zealand- filed an application in the Hamilton High Court.

The judicial review relates to WRC’s decision to withdraw part of the Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 - Waikato and River Catchments to the Waikato Regional Plan, to allow for consultation with Hauraki iwi.

That is due to be heard on 19 and 20 June 2017. A review decision may not be received until July or August.

The action has been taken as the group believes that the WRC has failed to comply with requirements of the Resource Management Act (RMA) to ensure integrated management of the natural and physical resources of the region and to give effect to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM).

Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says since November last year, when the WRC withdrew 120,000 hectares from the plan to enable consultation with Hauraki iwi, our group has been trying to get the submission date deferred, or put on hold, while that important consultation takes place.

The area removed is not related to a catchment but is an iwi boundary that is across catchments, essentially splitting them and making it difficult for stakeholders to put together submissions. It also unnecessarily complicates the process and causes confusion.

"With the submission closing date looming on 8 March, we once again have to consider legal options, because we are unfortunately getting backed into a corner," Chapman says.

"We have already gone to the Courts for a judicial review on process, because we believe it makes no sense to close submissions while such a large area remains outside the plan.

"This plan change has significant impacts on our farmers and growers who just want a fair and consistent process so they can get on with growing New Zealand’s food.

"We do not want to have to work through two separate submission processes, and spend a lot of time and money on lawyers and Court processes.

"We have variously written, emailed, tried to talk to council and councillors, and appeared before council meetings. A recent Council meeting saw a decision on delaying the submission delegated from Council to a Heathy Rivers Subcommittee, due to meet this week.

"We are looking forward to a recommendation from that committee to delay submissions."