Key info for farmers Farmer's Toolkit

Your one-stop-shop for all farming information needs.

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Handy info for farmers

Find helpful information below. Not sure about something? Get in touch via the Contact Us button below.

Apply for consents

Find forms and apply for a range of resource consents, including notices of consent transfers, here.

Apply for Consents

Rules on farm

Find info on discharge consents, compliance factsheets, water use, nutrient management consents and more.

Rural Farming Compliance Information

Rural Advice

Horizons’ rural advice team is on hand to provide advice and practical solutions to all farmers in our region.

Rural Advice

Preparing for El Niño

El Niño is a climate pattern that can cause weather to be more extreme. The Ministry of Primary Industries has information about what you can do to prepare your farm or orchard, and where to get advice and information.

Learn more

Water Metering

Horizons’ WaterMatters is a web-based information system for individual consent holders and those organisations in the region interested in water management.

Login to MyWaterMatters

Funding opportunities

Find out what funding opportunities, such as riparian fencing and planting, non-scheme river works, erosion management and more, we can help with.

Combined Environmental Grants

Riparian planting

Find information, advice and funding avenues for riparian planting.

Freshwater

Erosion management

Find info on Horizons' land management programmes, including SLUI, pole planting advice, plus learn about funding avenues for on-farm works.

Land

Biosecurity on farm

Find information and advice on pest plants and animals and how to manage threats on-farm.

Biosecurity

Horizons and Overseer

Overseer is a cloud-based nutrient management platform used by NZ farmers to optimise nutrient flows and inform more sustainable production decisions.

Horizons and Overseer

One Plan

The One Plan defines how the natural and physical resources of the Region, including fresh water, air, productive land and natural ecosystems, will be cared for and managed by the Regional Council in partnership with Territorial Authorities and the community.

Read more

Plan Change 2 consenting information

The Environment Court released its final decision on Plan Change 2 in June 2026, confirming a consenting pathway for existing intensive farming land uses (aka IFLU) within targeted catchments. We've created a webpage with information especially for those who will need to make consent applications through this consenting pathway.

Plan Change 2 consenting information

Catchment information

Learn about our region's catchment context, challenges and values.

Learn more

Resilient farming

COMING SOON
Find info on flood plain mapping and protection, and on-farm mitigations.

Farmer's guide to freshwater

COMING SOON
Horizons works in partnership with the community to protect and enhance our region's waterways.

Biodiversity on farm

COMING SOON
Learn about how you can help protect and improve biodiversity on your farm.

Who can help

Beef + Lamb NZ

www.beeflambnz.com

Ministry for Primary Industries

www.mpi.govt.nz

FAR Research

www.far.org.nz

Horticulture New Zealand

www.hortnz.co.nz

New Zealand Winegrowers

www.nzwine.com