Horizons acknowledges Plan Change 2 announcement

PC2 was proposed by Horizons to improve the workability of the One Plan provisions that manage existing intensive farming land uses in catchments with degraded water quality. PC2 went through a hearings process before being appealed to the Environment Court. The court released an interim decision in December 2025 and its final decision in June 2026.

Horizons chair Nikki Riley says officers will analyse the detail of yesterday’s announcement, including the relevant legislation once it is available, and implement PC2 as legally required. 

“Officers are already well advanced in planning for implementing PC2 based on the Environment Court decision, and have been in regular contact with industry groups and other affected parties to make implementation as smooth as possible,” says Cr Riley.

“Officers will now consider the impact of incoming legislation on implementation of the plan change.”

PC2 has been a long journey over many years, with Horizons and other parties investing significant amounts of time and resources to address issues which left farmers and growers unable to meet cumulative nitrogen leaching limits in the One Plan, says Cr Riley.

“PC2 is about creating a workable and effective way to manage currently unconsented existing intensive farming land uses, thereby removing uncertainty for affected farmers and growers, and enabling regulation within targeted catchments with degraded water quality.”

“These farmers and growers have been operating with uncertainty for many years, which has created considerable social and economic effects, and delayed anticipated environmental benefits.

“We will continue working with those farmers and growers, as well as other parties, to implement PC2. Farmers and growers will still need to apply for a consent, so I urge them to head to our website to get more information so they are as ready as possible for when PC2 becomes operative.”

For more information about the PC2 plan change process, see https://www.horizons.govt.nz/your-council/plans-and-strategies/one-plan-reviews-and-changes/proposed-plan-change-2.

For more information about PC2 consenting information, see https://www.horizons.govt.nz/consents-and-compliance/plan-change-2-consenting-information.

To read the government announcement, see https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/certainty-waikato-and-manawat%C5%AB-whanganui-farmers.