National standards will pave the way for growth

National's pledge to introduce 19 new national standards shows the party is serious about getting Wellington out of farming, Federated Farmers says.

"Introducing new national standards to make everyday farming activities a permitted activity will unlock farming's potential," Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst says.

"It will cut unnecessary cost and complexity, give farmers the confidence we need to get on with the business of farming, and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy.

"That's why this policy sat at the top of our priority list for the incoming Government. We think it has the most potential to help transform our primary sector."

Permitted activity national standards will cut the need for expensive resource consents but still ensure the environment is protected, Colin Hurst says.

Federated Farmers released Backing Kiwi Farmers, a five-point plan to double farm productivity, cut costs and improve the environment, in June this year.

"We asked for 10 national standards but National have gone even further, announcing 19 new national standards for farming to help grow our economy," Hurst says.

"This is going to be transformational for our primary sector, but it will also help everyday Kiwi families who are struggling with the cost of living.

"Farm production barriers and costs ultimately flow through to the cost of food on our supermarket shelves - especially fresh fruits and vegetables.

"This isn't just a plan for farming; it's a plan to grow the economy, grow our exports, and help New Zealanders get ahead."

Permitted activity standards aren't simply a licence to do whatever a farmer wants. They set a clear benchmark farmers must meet to ensure protection for the environment.

"If those standards are met and you're farming within the guardrails, you can just get on with the job," Hurst says.

"It means you don't have all the unnecessary cost, complexity, uncertainty and delays that come with jumping through bureaucratic resource consenting hoops."

National's 19 national standards build on work already done to reform New Zealand's resource management system.

"This is going to be what paves the way for farmers to double the value of agricultural exports to $106 billion by 2034," Hurst says.

"We've sent the Government a consistent message that if they want to grow the economy, they just need to get out of the way and let farmers get on with it.

"They need to let us do what we do best: innovating, investing and increasing the production to really drive export growth and lift New Zealand's standard of living."

Federated Farmers' proposed national standards included Farm Plans, vegetable growing, on-farm water storage, gravel extraction, drain maintenance, effluent management, fertiliser application, farm quarries, wetland restoration, and small and medium-scale solar.

The National Party has added micro-hydro, irrigation, energy storage, small-scale seasonal worker accommodation, farm tracks, agricultural aviation, culverts, offal holes and managing contaminated soils.

"This is an incredibly positive announcement that sets a clear vision and ambition for farming and growing in New Zealand," Hurst says.

"With these standards replacing the need for consents, farmers can spend more time and money on growing their businesses and less on unnecessary bureaucracy."