The pork sector has welcomed the government’s decision to amend a directive that could have prevented pig farming on agricultural land.
The government has changed the wording in the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL) to make it clear pig farming is an appropriate activity in such areas.
NZ Pork chief executive Brent Kleiss said the industry is grateful to the government for listening to farmers’ concerns and taking action to address the issue.
“The wording in the policy states highly productive land should be safeguarded specifically for ‘land-based’ primary production.
“This effectively excluded pig farming from land deemed highly productive, creating significant challenges for establishing new farms or expanding existing ones in these areas.”
Kleiss said they were concerned that was the way the Ministry for the Environment and local councils were interpreting the policy.
“However, under the revised policy statement, a clause has been added that recognises that pig farming – referred to as ‘intensive indoor primary production’ – is an appropriate activity on highly productive land.”
Kleiss said NZ Pork had raised its concerns with the government, and he was encouraged to see the organisation’s submission referenced in the final decision document.
“The amendment was important because pig farms are often part of bigger farms where effluent is used as a natural fertiliser on cropping or pastoral land. That is why many commercial pig farms are on land that is considered highly productive under this policy.
“Resolving this issue has been a significant focus for the industry over the past two years, and we are pleased with the outcome. The amendments ensure that pig farming can develop or expand on highly productive land while preserving the overarching goal of the NPS-HPL to protect these lands for food production.”
