Managing activities on land is a mix of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches. Part II of this Plan contains regional rules relating to the activities described in this chapter.

Method 4-1 Sustainable Land Use Initiative – Hill Country Erosion
Description The aim of this method is to reduce hill country accelerated erosion*. While the emphasis will be on hill country, all land at risk of erosion will be eligible for assistance under this programme. Staff from the Regional Council and other agencies will work with landowners and occupiers to develop voluntary management plans. These plans will provide the blueprint for long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability. Research, publicity, education, information, incentives, joint ventures and land purchase will be used to encourage the landowner or occupier to manage their land in a sustainable manner.
Who Regional Council, central government, Territorial Authorities, Crown Research Institutes, landowners or occupiers, recognised organisations representing farmers, and farm consultants.
Links to Policy This method implements Policy 4-1.
Targets 50% of properties within hill country land subject to an elevated risk of accelerated erosion* will have a voluntary management plan in place by 2017.
 
Method 4-2 Whanganui Catchment Strategy
Description The aim of this method is to reduce hill country accelerated erosion* within the Whanganui catchment. Whilst the emphasis will be on hill country land subject to an elevated risk of accelerated erosion*, all land at risk of erosion within the catchment will be eligible for assistance under this programme. Staff from the Regional Council and consultants will work with landowners and occupiers to develop management plans. These plans will provide the blueprint for long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability. Research, publicity, education, information and incentives will be used to encourage the landowner or occupier to manage their land in a sustainable manner.

The Whanganui Catchment method is a pilot for the much larger Sustainable Land Use Initiative – Hill Country Erosion method (Method 4-1). Eventually, the Whanganui Catchment Strategy method will be integrated with this method.
Who Regional Council, Ruapehu and Wanganui District Councils, landowners or occupiers, relevant hapū* and iwi*, the Whanganui River Enhancement Trust, Department of Conservation, recognised organisations representing farmers and farm consultants.
Links to Policy This method implements Policy 4-1.
Targets 550% of properties within hill country land subject to an elevated risk of accelerated erosion* in the Whanganui Catchment will have a voluntary management plan in place by 2015.
 
Method 4-3 Soil Health
Description The aim of this method is to reduce the impact of horticulture, cropping and intensive farming activities on soil health, and the consequent off-site environmental impacts. Education on best management practices will be made available to landowners through a variety of means to encourage the adoption of sustainable land use practices. Research and monitoring will be used to identify and fine-tune best practice. This method includes the provision of advice and information to owners of land in the fragile sand country along the Region’s west coast.
Who Regional Council, landowners or occupiers, Landwise, Horticulture New Zealand, Federated Farmers, agricultural contractors, fertiliser* companies and research institutes.
Links to Policy This method implements Policy 4-3(c).
Targets
  • All major croppers/horticulturists in the Region are operating under best management practice regimes by 2017.
  • All major agricultural contractors are operating under industry standards regimes by 2010.
  • All pasture-based farms are being managed in accordance with the relevant sector-based best management practice by the agreed target dates.
 
Method 4-4 Sustainable Land Use Codes of Practice and Best Management Practices
Description This method will provide support for the development of codes of practice, best management practices and other sector-based initiatives for sustainable land use, construction, production and operating methods on all types of land within the Region – hill country, plains, sand country and along the coast.

This method will also recognise, and where appropriate support, initiatives that raise awareness of sustainable land use. Examples include the monitor farm programme, sustainable farming and management funds, and Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Who Participation in this project is very much dependent upon approaches from industry and sector groups.
Links to Policy This method implements Policy 4-3.
Targets
  • All approaches for Regional Council assistance will be considered.
  • Where proposals are aligned with Regional Council objectives, assistance will be provided where possible.
 
Method 4-5 Land Research, Monitoring and Reporting Programme
Description The aim of this method is to develop an integrated research, monitoring and reporting programme that supports delivery and refinement of existing policies and methods, guides implementation planning, and allows implementation effectiveness to be assessed. This will include a five-yearly assessment of the effectiveness of the above methods, particularly the Sustainable Land Use Initiative – Hill Country Erosion Method.
Who Regional Council, landowners and occupiers, research institutes, universities, and non-government agencies and community groups.
Links to Policy This method implements Policies 4-1, 4-2 and 4-3.
Targets A research, monitoring and reporting programme that supports delivery and refinement of existing policies and methods, and guides and assesses implementation.
 
Method 4-6 Infrastructure Protection
Description The aim of this method is to reduce the erosion risk to, and caused by, the provision, maintenance* or upgrade* of infrastructure.

Advice and information will be provided to infrastructure owners in the planning stages of new works, the carrying out of maintenance* or upgrade*, and protection of existing networks from erosion risks.
Who Regional Council, Territorial Authorities and owners of major infrastructure.
Links to Policy This method implements Policy 4-3.
Targets The Regional Council will have formed working partnerships with all major infrastructure owners for the purposes of assessing and identifying options to manage erosion risks.
 
Method 4-7 Education in Schools – Land
Description The aim of this method is to implement a range of initiatives to raise awareness amongst the youth of the Region of the significance of the land and soil resource, the threats to it, and what they can do to protect/restore it. This will be achieved through various environmental education programmes/initiatives eg., Green RIG, Trees for Survival etc.
Who Regional Council, national and local environmental education providers and youth organisations.
Links to Policy This method implements Policy 4-3.
Targets The Regional Council will develop and implement a land and soil related environmental education programme.