Plan Change 2 consenting information
Plan Change 2 was proposed by Horizons Regional Council to improve the workability of the One Plan provisions that manage existing intensive farming land uses dairy farming, commercial vegetable growing, cropping and intensive sheep and beef) in target water management areas.
The Environment Court released its final decision on Plan Change 2 in June 2026. The decision confirms a consenting pathway for existing intensive farming land uses (aka IFLU) within targeted catchments. Existing IFLU activities can be controlled activities where they meet the cumulative nitrogen leaching maximums in Table 14.2 (now Table 12) and/or where they can meet specified reductions (limits) in nitrogen leaching loss. Where the nitrogen leaching limits are not met, there is a discretionary activity pathway available. If the nitrogen leaching limits are met, but other specific standards are not (e.g. setbacks from waterways), consent will be required as a restricted discretionary activity.
Quick questions
Who does this effect?
The One Plan regulates intensive farming land uses (aka IFLU). IFLU include dairy farming, commercial vegetable growing, cropping and irrigated sheep and beef farming.
The One Plan requires consent for new IFLU throughout the region, to ensure any nitrogen leaching is limited.
In the targeted catchments, consents are required for existing IFLU to limit nitrogen leaching.
Please check here [link to target catchments] to see if you are in a targeted catchment.
What's happening now?
We are updating the One Plan provisions in accordance with the Environment Court's final directions. It's likely the plan change will be taken to Council for approval in August 2026, with the plan to be made operative as soon as possible.
What is Horizons doing to help?
We're working on a range of material, including guidance material and application forms, for those who will need to apply for a consent for existing IFLU in targeted catchments. We'll add this information to this webpage as and when it's ready, so be sure to check back regularly.
We're also engaging with industry groups to ensure farmers and growers in target catchments are well informed of what will be required.
Summary of consenting requirements
Existing IFLU in target catchments require consent if they do not already have consent.
The cumulative nitrogen leaching loss from the land will be less than the maximum values specificed in Table 12 (i.e. the Year 10 and Year 20 maximum values), or
Specified reductions in nitrogen loss will be achieved (specified reduction pathways):
For commercial vegetable growing: a 35% reduction relative to 2012/13 baseline growing season, or
For dairy farming, intensive sheep and beef, or cropping: nitrogen leaching loss will be reduced to the greater of:
80% of the nitrogen leaching for the 2012/13 baseline, or
the 75th percentile nitrogen leaching loss limit specified in Table 56.
Farmers and growers may need to implement nitrogen reducing measures (good and best management practices, and potentially additional measures) to achieve the reductions required to meet the Table 12 values or the specified reduction limits. Applicants should take advice from farming and horticultural specialists to identify ways to achieve this.
The specified reduction pathways are only available for the first year after PC2 becomes operative. Applications lodged later than one year after the date PC2 becomes operative must comply with Table 12 or will require consent as a discretionary activity.
Applications that do not comply with Table 12 or the specified reductions can apply at any time for discretionary activity consent. In that case it will need to be demonstrated how nutrient leaching is being reduced to the maximum extent reasonably practicable in the shortest feasible timeframe. Alternatively, a discretionary consent can also be sought to transition to a non-intensive farming land use within five years.
New provisions
Once provisions are made operative, we'll make them available here.
Overseer updates
When the Overseer model is updated, Table 12 (previously known as Table 14.2) will be recalibrated to ensure its cumulative nitrogen leaching maximums match the latest Overseer output data for the reference files used to develop the table. This recalibration is informed by methodology within schedules included in the One Plan with Plan Change 2, and can be used to guide consent applicants on how the Overseer update has impacted cumulative nitrogen leaching maximums values.
Table 12 and Table 56 will be updated when there are Overseer updates.
Currently, the values in these tables are those set out in the provisions finalised following the Environment Court decision. This is because there has not been an overseer update (version change) since before the date of the Environment Court's decision.
Consent applications
We are working on guidance material and application forms for specific IFLU activities. We'll put that information here as and when it is ready.
Consenting
Existing IFLU in target catchments
If you are an existing IFLU activity within a targeted catchment, you will need to start preparing information to apply for a consent.
We recommend farmers and growers start gathering information for consent applications, and obtain advice around the requirements for consent applications. This will enable farmers and growers to make informed decisions about the available consenting pathways, including the specified reduction pathways which are only available for 12 months from the date Plan Change 2 is made operative.
While we will provide some guidance regarding application forms/templates and information requirements, technical advice will be required. For a controlled activity application, applicants will need to seek advice from (at least) a farm advisor*. Discretionary activity applicants will require the assistance of a RMA specialist and/or advisors with relevant technical expertise depending on the range of effects anticipated from the activity. All controlled and discretionary activities will need to be supported by well-prepared Overseer budgets and nutrient management plans.
*If you need help finding an appropriate farm advisor, please contact us or your industry represenatives.
Existing consented IFLU
If you are an existing intensive land use activity with resource consent, we encourage you to review your existing consent and ensure it reflects current farming activities. It may be that farming practices or farming structures have changed over time. We encourage you to get in touch with either your farm consultant or industry representative to seek advice on your existing consent, current farm practices and whether there needs to be any changes to your existing consent. Advice should be obtained at an early stage to inform decision-making about the different consenting pathways available (including timeframes).
What should all existing IFLU in targeted catchments be doing?
Our advice to all existing IFLU farmers and growers in the target catchments is:
Start engaging with industry groups (e.g. DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb NZ, Horticulture NZ, Federated Farmers) now. Many of these groups have been active throughout the Plan Change 2 process and should be able to give support and advice in preparing for the consenting process.
Collect as much information as possible about your current farm(s), including leaching rates. This may include previously prepared base Overseer files, stock transport records, cropping details, production records, water use and irrigation scheduling (if applicable), and fertiliser records, among other sources of information.
If you are intending to utilise the specified reduction pathway, be prepared to quantify any nitrogen leaching reductions (and related farm-practice changes) made since 2012/13.
Begin thinking about applying for a resource consent as soon as possible.
Catchment information
We hold a variety of information about our region's catchments. This includes specific information about catchment context, challenges and values (aka CCCVs). Understanding your catchment is not only a way to better understand the environment you live in, but is a key part of preparing a strong resource consent application.
Key documents
We are still creating a lot of the documentation which farmers and growers with existing IFLU will need when applying for consents. Here is a list of what you can expect to see once it's ready:
Application forms
Application guidance
Completeness checklist
Overseer information and guidance
Nutrient management plan template
Guidance on reducing the leaching of nitrogen and other contaminants
A list of consultants.