Freshwater Farm Plans

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What is a Freshwater Farm Plan?

A Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP) is designed to be your tool for managing environmental risks on your farm. It helps you identify potential risks and create practical plans to manage and reduce those risks.

Your FWFP will outline on-farm actions to improve local waterways, tailored to your farm’s unique location, catchment, and environment. This means a more flexible, practical approach compared to one-size-fits-all rules or resource consents.

What is the current 'State of Play' with Freshwater Farm Plans?

Right now, Central Government is reviewing the FWFP regulations. These rules don’t yet apply in the Tasman District, and the review will decide how they’ll work in the future.

On 3 September 2024, the Government hit pause on the rollout of FWFPs in regions where they’ve already started — Waikato, Southland, West Coast, Otago, and Horizons.

This pause gives farmers in those areas some breathing room and certainty around timeframes while the review happens. It’s also a chance to make the system more practical and cost-effective for everyone.

What This Means for Tasman

For now, nothing changes in Tasman, as the FWFP regulations are not yet in effect here. However, the review will influence how and when they are applied in the future.

One thing is clear: FWFPs aren’t going away. They’ll still be part of the picture, and we’re waiting for more details on what the final version will look like.

What this Means for You

Even though the FWFP rollout is on pause while the review takes place, your efforts shouldn’t stop. Every step you take now, from improving nutrient management to protecting waterways, will make the transition smoother when FWFPs come into effect.

Keep Up the Good Work

There’s already a lot of great work happening across our catchments to reduce risks to freshwater, and that effort really matters. Farmers and Catchment Groups are leading the way with practical solutions, and these actions will pay off in the long run.

We will update this page as new information comes in.

The Catchments and Landuse Team, through their Catchment Advisors, will keep you up-to-date with news and events.

Got Questions?

If you’d like to talk to someone, get in touch with a Catchment Advisor:
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 03 543 8400 — ask for Brigid, Kat, or Helen.

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More information: Freshwater farm plans | Ministry for the Environment

Catchment Context, Maps and Data

Our Catchment Advisors are working hard behind the scenes to prepare all the spatial mapping layers and information you’ll need from Council to complete your Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP).

Once ready, everything will be available right here in an easy-to-use format. You’ll be able to download mapping layers for your farm, including:

Soils
Landforms
Rainfall
Waterways
Overland flow paths

Pick the information you need, apply it to your farm, and use it to manage or reduce impacts on freshwater.

In the meantime, check out Tasman's Environmental Map Viewer for a sneak peek!

Help with navigating the map

📽️ This video provides guidance on how to use the map viewer.
Although it focuses on Council’s Natural Hazards Map Viewer, it works the same way as the Environmental Map Viewer — so the concepts are transferable. A guide specific to the Environmental Map Viewer is in development and will be available soon.