Opening of the Hearing and introductions by the Chair including Hearing directions. Horizons will begin with Opening Statements, followed by expert witnesses. Please Note: Schedule may change daily please keep update via the website.
Applicant, Potatoes New Zealand, DOC.
Wellington Fish and Game, Geoff Kane, Russell Phillips, Environmental Defence Society, Ballance Agri,
Iwi -Representatives
Federated Farmers and Dairy NZ
Water Protection Society, Lisa Charmley, Forest and Bird, Horowhenu District Council, Arawhato Wetland Alliance, Fonterra.
Beef and Lamb, Andrew Day, Manawatu District Council, Tararua District Council. Terry Parminter and Dave Horne.
HortNZ and Growers, Woodhaven Gardens
PNCC Christine Foster - additional - supplementary -Last Day
The Panel has given leave to Horizons Regional Council to submit the Right of Reply By Friday 30th October 2020.
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Hearing Documents
FAQs: Proposed Plan Change 2
View nutrient management reports and documents
Plan Change 2 Submissions and Further Submissions
Plan Change 2 Hearing Agenda
The policies and rules in the One Plan manage nutrient leaching to water by intensive farming land uses. When excess nutrients make their way into surface and groundwater, they can boost algal growth and affect water quality and life supporting capacity of freshwater and aquatic environments. The plan limits the amount of nitrogen that can be leached by intensive farming land uses by setting cumulative nitrogen leaching maximums. The maximums apply to existing farms in target catchments where there is poor water quality and farming is a significant land use across the catchment, and to new farms (conversions) anywhere in the region. Cumulative nitrogen leaching maximums were developed using the Overseer modelling software, allocating leaching limits according to the productive potential of the land – known as the ‘natural capital’ approach. The Regional Policy Statement policy directs that these limits must be “achievable on most farms using good management practice.” It was intended that intensive farming land uses that could meet the cumulative nitrogen leaching maximums in Table 14.2 of the plan would be able to obtain consent as a ‘Controlled’ activity, which must be granted. Those intensive farming land uses that could not meet the maximums would be able to seek a consent as a ‘Restricted Discretionary’ activity, which could be declined.
In practice, the One Plan provisions to manage nutrient leaching are no longer working as intended, as the result of two external factors that have arisen since the One Plan became operative: