Info for growers on the Government's resource management reform
6 January 2026
Before Christmas, the Government pushed ahead with its resource management reforms.
HortNZ has analysed the decisions and proposals and provided two summaries.
Proposal for permitted activity and highly productive land
The Government's proposal is for national permitted activity for commercial vegetable production, involving an objective in the national direction for freshwater, directing councils to enable commercial vegetable production and crop rotation. Note this proposal was first made in July 2025.
In terms of highly productive land, the proposal is to remove LUC 3 from the definition of highly productive land, and introduce Special Agricultural Areas in key horticultural areas where LUC 3 is still protected from housing development.
Click here to read the HortNZ summary
Changes to consenting
Resource consents that would otherwise expire before 31 December 2027 are automatically extended until that date.
Recently expired resource consents (where an application for a replacement consent has been made, but not yet determined) are deemed to be reinstated and extended until 31 December 2027.
If an expiring consent relates to water, then the consent will be extended to either:
- 31 December 2027, or
- the date that is 35 years after the date the consent commenced, whichever is earlier.
If a consent is for a 35-year duration and expires on or before enactment of the new legislation, it will not be automatically extended and will have to progress with an application under the RMA to renew the consent.