Latest news with #BayofPlentyRegionalCouncil
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Councils Plead For Bipartisan Resource Management Act Reform
Regional councils want greater certainty and bipartisanship on regulations, as they gear up for an expected spate of rule changes when legislation replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA) next year. The government has announced sweeping changes to the rules governing councils' oversight of everything - from housing, to mining, to agriculture - under the RMA, and these have been released for public feedback. Speaking on behalf of Te Uru Kahika - Regional and Unitary Councils of Aotearoa, Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter said when policy resets every three years, regulators scramble to deliver the new government's national direction. "As regional councils we have effectively seen these national instruments landing on our lap as regularly as every three years. The music just has to stop. "We need certainty, we need to be able to have the chance as regulators to actually bed in policies and rules and provide a greater certainty to people who want to do things - who want to build, who want to farm, who want to mine - because the bigger block on those things at the moment, at national and regional levels, is that we continue to change the rules." Ponter said bipartisanship on regulations was needed to provide certainty. "I don't want to be in the position in three or six years' time that all the rules are going to change again, because the pendulum has swung the other way." Ponter said in recent years there had been "more radical swings" in policy under successive governments. "At the moment, the meat in the sandwich of all this, is the regional councils, who get accused of not doing this, or being woke, of being overly sympathetic to the environment... when all we are doing is following the national guidance that is put in front of us." The government has released three discussion documents covering 12 national policy statements and and national environmental standards, with the aim of having 16 new or updated ones by the end of 2025, ahead of legislation replacing the RMA next year. The consultation covers three main topics: infrastructure and development, the primary sector and freshwater. It is open from 29 May to 27 July. Doug Leeder, chair of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, has governed through the implementation of four National Policy Statements for Freshwater Management. He said implementing national direction was a major undertaking that involved work with communities, industry and mana whenua. "Councils contend with the challenge also faced by iwi and hapū, industry, and communities that the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management has changed every three years since it has been introduced. "When policy resets every three years, it imposes significant costs on councils and communities, creates uncertainty for farmers and businesses, and makes it harder to achieve the long-term outcomes we all want. "We need to work towards something more enduring." Could bipartisanship on regulations work? "That's the challenge for the minister but also for the leaders of those opposition parties, as well," Ponter said. "Everybody is going to have to find a degree of compromise if something like that is going to work." But he said regional councils had worked constructively with successive governments and they were ready to do so again.
Scoop
5 days ago
- General
- Scoop
‘Mooving Day': Farmers Ask Drivers Not To Honk And To ‘Please Drive Slowly' As They Relocate Cows
Article – RNZ For the annual event to relocate cows they also have a plea for motorists: drive slowly., Reporter 'Don't toot your horns, and please drive slowly'. That's the message for motorists as dairy farmers walk or transport their cows to different farms over the next couple of weeks. Moving Day, or Mooving Day as it's sometimes termed, is an annual event in the dairy farming calendar on 1 June. The term 'Gypsy Day' was formerly used – but it has been acknowledged it may be regarded as derogatory. From now until mid June about 5000 dairy farming families, and herds of cows, relocate to new farms – as it's the start of winter and many cows are not being milked. Dairy NZ spokesperson Tony Finch said Moving Day happens throughout most of the country – with more density in the Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury and Bay of Plenty regions. Finch said thousands of people were literally moving households and farms to new sharemilking jobs and starting the new season at the same time. 'It is a really busy time for a lot of people because of the volume of them moving houses, moving possessions, kids, animals, family into a new community. 'It does make a big part of the annual dairy calendar and it can be stressful. There is a lot of planning involved.' Finch said many cows were transported to their new farm in a stock truck, but for those not moving far they will walk on rural roads. He is urging drivers to be patient if they are delayed behind a herd of cattle, or a stock truck on a rural road. 'I suppose the big thing we want to remind people is to be mindful, respectful and patient – that there's going to be a lot of traffic, potentially, and stock moving.' People needed to be considerate as it was a stressful time for the animals and farmers, he said. 'Impatient drivers tooting their horns is no help – for cattle walking on the roads, and cattle in stock trucks being transported to other areas. Please do not toot. Just wait.' Biosecurity protection Finch said there were many rules about safely moving stock on roads, and farmers needed to have a plan surrounding their cows welfare. To prevent the spread of potentially fatal diseases, such as Mycoplasma bovis farmers have to respect biosecurity regulations. 'It is a critical part of any movement that we ensure cows NAIT (ID tags each cow wears) are up to date. We have had some big scares in the past about biosecurity and that was M Bovis so we want all stock to be tracked correctly. And that we secure boundary fencing so cattle don't get into neighbouring farms. All equipment must be clean that's left in the farms, and what is taken to the new farm.' It's not just diseases that have the potential to be spread – it's invasive weeds as well. Bay of Plenty Regional Council biosecurity officer Nicky Oliver-Smith was reminding farmers and contractors that strong biosecurity practices were essential to prevent the spread of pest weeds. 'We know farmers put a huge amount of planning into the shift, and good biosecurity and effluent management are key parts of getting it right. 'Unclean machinery can easily spread pests. Just one seed or weed fragment on contaminated equipment can lead to a new infestation.' Oliver-Smith said Alligator weed and Noogoora buras were two of the most concerning agricultural pest weeds in the region. These fast-growing weeds can reduce crop value and pose a risk to livestock if eaten. Effluent from moving stock trucks, and cows walking along roads can also cause problems on the roads. To prevent large spillages, farmers are advised to only feed their cows dry food, and not green grass, for several hours prior to transporting them to a new farm. One cow can produce about 52 litres of effluent a day.
Scoop
5 days ago
- General
- Scoop
'Mooving Day': Farmers Ask Drivers Not To Honk And To 'Please Drive Slowly' As They Relocate Cows
"Don't toot your horns, and please drive slowly". That's the message for motorists as dairy farmers walk or transport their cows to different farms over the next couple of weeks. Moving Day, or Mooving Day as it's sometimes termed, is an annual event in the dairy farming calendar on 1 June. The term 'Gypsy Day' was formerly used - but it has been acknowledged it may be regarded as derogatory. From now until mid June about 5000 dairy farming families, and herds of cows, relocate to new farms - as it's the start of winter and many cows are not being milked. Dairy NZ spokesperson Tony Finch said Moving Day happens throughout most of the country - with more density in the Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury and Bay of Plenty regions. Finch said thousands of people were literally moving households and farms to new sharemilking jobs and starting the new season at the same time. "It is a really busy time for a lot of people because of the volume of them moving houses, moving possessions, kids, animals, family into a new community. "It does make a big part of the annual dairy calendar and it can be stressful. There is a lot of planning involved." Finch said many cows were transported to their new farm in a stock truck, but for those not moving far they will walk on rural roads. He is urging drivers to be patient if they are delayed behind a herd of cattle, or a stock truck on a rural road. "I suppose the big thing we want to remind people is to be mindful, respectful and patient - that there's going to be a lot of traffic, potentially, and stock moving." People needed to be considerate as it was a stressful time for the animals and farmers, he said. "Impatient drivers tooting their horns is no help - for cattle walking on the roads, and cattle in stock trucks being transported to other areas. Please do not toot. Just wait." Biosecurity protection Finch said there were many rules about safely moving stock on roads, and farmers needed to have a plan surrounding their cows welfare. To prevent the spread of potentially fatal diseases, such as Mycoplasma bovis farmers have to respect biosecurity regulations. 'It is a critical part of any movement that we ensure cows NAIT (ID tags each cow wears) are up to date. We have had some big scares in the past about biosecurity and that was M Bovis so we want all stock to be tracked correctly. And that we secure boundary fencing so cattle don't get into neighbouring farms. All equipment must be clean that's left in the farms, and what is taken to the new farm." It's not just diseases that have the potential to be spread - it's invasive weeds as well. Bay of Plenty Regional Council biosecurity officer Nicky Oliver-Smith was reminding farmers and contractors that strong biosecurity practices were essential to prevent the spread of pest weeds. "We know farmers put a huge amount of planning into the shift, and good biosecurity and effluent management are key parts of getting it right. "Unclean machinery can easily spread pests. Just one seed or weed fragment on contaminated equipment can lead to a new infestation." Oliver-Smith said Alligator weed and Noogoora buras were two of the most concerning agricultural pest weeds in the region. These fast-growing weeds can reduce crop value and pose a risk to livestock if eaten. Effluent from moving stock trucks, and cows walking along roads can also cause problems on the roads. To prevent large spillages, farmers are advised to only feed their cows dry food, and not green grass, for several hours prior to transporting them to a new farm. One cow can produce about 52 litres of effluent a day.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Councils Consider National Direction Packages From Government
Councils across the country are considering and preparing for a major implementation task, following the Government's release of proposed reforms to national direction under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The proposed changes span 12 existing instruments and introduce four new ones, making this the most wide-ranging reset of national direction since the RMA was enacted. The changes will have significant implications for how land, water, biodiversity and infrastructure are managed. Speaking for the regional councils and unitary authorities of NZ, Greater Wellington Chair Daran Ponter said national direction drives local planning and consent decisions that are central to our environment and economy. 'Regional and unitary councils recognise the pressures on the current system and like central government, want to help solve the housing shortage, support our world-leading primary producers, enable critical infrastructure delivery, and achieve freshwater aspirations. 'We have a lot to offer to ensure national direction is implemented in an efficient and effective way that achieves good outcomes for all parts of New Zealand, and we warmly welcome Ministers and officials to visit councils and see firsthand the scale, complexity, and success of the work being done across the country,' said Chair Ponter. Having governed through the implementation of four National Policy Statements for Freshwater Management in his time as Chair of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Doug Leeder emphasised that implementing national direction is a major undertaking that involves work with communities, industry, and mana whenua. 'Councils contend with the challenge also faced by iwi and hapū, industry, and communities that the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management has changed every three years since it has been introduced. 'When policy resets every three years, it imposes significant costs on councils and communities, creates uncertainty for farmers and businesses, and makes it harder to achieve the long-term outcomes we all want. 'We need to work towards something more enduring,' said Chair Leeder. Regional government has worked constructively with successive governments to deliver their national direction, Chair Ponter said they're ready to partner and do so again. 'We have appreciated efforts by Ministers during their review to minimise the cost of implementation to ratepayers. 'We stand ready to provide additional advice on this and other matters from our experience enabling water storage, supporting flexible freshwater farm plans, and collectively delivering more than $48 million each year into catchment and biodiversity restoration on the ground,' said Chair Ponter. Looking ahead, Te Uru Kahika welcomes the opportunity to engage constructively with the Government on the new direction. The Government's National Direction Package consultation is open until 27 July 2025.
Scoop
24-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
How Rotorua's Air Pollution Transformation Defied Expectations
Article – Laura Smith – Local Democracy Reporter Once the worst winter air, the city has today shed its label of 'polluted'. At its worst, Rotorua had the worst winter air pollution in the country. Now, in a feat some did not think possible, as of today its airshed has officially lost that polluted status. It is a 'significant day', showing how far things have come in the 20 years the airshed has been in place. Estimated early deaths caused by air pollution halved in a decade, as millions of dollars were loaned to replace thousands of old, smoky fireplaces with cleaner heating. The city's continued high reliance on wood burners, however, may create a challenge if air quality standards tighten as expected. The Rotorua airshed was first gazetted in 2005 to enable monitoring and introduce rules to help improve air quality amid pollution concerns. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is required to monitor air quality and manage pollution to national standards. These include for PM10 – small particulate matter, such as in smoke, which can be inhaled. If the airshed of a geographical area exceeds the national standard limit for PM10 more than once a year in a five-year period, it is labelled polluted. As of today, Rotorua's air quality has improved enough to lose that designation. Regional councillor Kevin Winters was mayor when the Rotorua Lakes Council adopted the Rotorua Air Quality Control Bylaw in 2010. It introduced rules to phase out the use of old and inefficient solid-fuel burners in homes and ban open fires indoors. Winters said the bylaw decision was not unanimous, and some said Rotorua could never lose that polluted label. 'It was very controversial.' A drive around areas such as Western Heights, Pukehangi and Fordlands convinced Winters to support it. 'It was like walking into a room of smokers. It was choking.' He viewed the past 15 years of work as a good example of collaboration between councils. He called Saturday's milestone a 'significant day'. Over the years, various measures were introduced to combat winter air-quality issues. Loans and grants were given for cleaner heating, an education campaign was launched, and compliance efforts were strengthened. About 400 grants worth a total of $735,000 were approved for insulation and to replace heating and remove solid burners since 2014. Grants are still available under the criteria. Between 2010 and 2021, about $11 million was lent to help residents buy cleaner heating options and insulation, funded by general and targeted rates. The latter ended a few years ago. A regional council spokesperson said the airshed introduction enabled it to start gathering 'real data' to understand the air pollution in Rotorua. 'It was the monitoring that followed that confirmed Rotorua had a winter-time air quality issue'. The Rotorua Air Quality Action Plan was introduced in 2008, a year that recorded 37 exceedances. The bylaws followed in 2010, then in 2020, Plan Change 13 (Air Quality) banned using all non-complying solid burners. In recent years, it has used an $8270 infrared camera to detect properties using illegal burners. Going forward, however, the change in Rotorua's pollution status could be up in the air, with new standards forecast. The spokesperson said research increasingly highlighted the ongoing negative health impacts associated with poor air quality. 'New rules focusing on even smaller particles [PM2.5] are also on the horizon, which will shift the goal posts further out.' This could prove a challenge for Rotorua, which still had high levels of wood burning for heating. Wood smoke particles are about 90% PM2.5. In a report, senior planner Elsa Weir said intervention would be needed to meet potential new targets for both PM10 and PM2.5. The council was waiting on government direction as to when the standards would be updated. It expected this to be after resource management system changes and not within the current Government's term. The regional council's other Rotorua councillor, Lyall Thurston, said while the airshed milestone marked 'significant progress', there was still work to do. He said collective change made an impact 'for the betterment of all Rotorua residents and visitors'. Thurston acknowledged other Rotorua Air Quality Working Group members, including Rotorua Lakes Council, Kāinga Ora and medical officers of health. Toi Te Ora Public Health Medical Officer of Health Dr Gregory Evans in 2023 told district councillors that air pollution affected people of all ages, but some were more vulnerable. Short-term examples included exacerbating asthma. Longer term, accumulated exposure could cause cardiovascular disease, and some of the pollutants were known carcinogens. A study released in 2022 found that air pollution generated by humans in 2016 resulted in 3300 premature adult deaths in New Zealand. He said estimates based on that study's health effects model found there were 40 early adult deaths in the Rotorua airshed in 2009 as a result of domestic fire-produced air pollution. The estimate for 2022 was 19. The number of years of lives lost reduced from 596 to 246, while restricted activity days were down from 53,000 to 20,000. The annual social cost of domestic fires had decreased from an estimated $190.9 million to $78.7m.
