Stock activity can damage the bed and banks of our waterways. Dung, urine, and sediment can also seriously impact water quality, the lives of animals living there, and mahinga kai values.
The National Stock Exclusion Regulations(external link) exclude certain types of stock from waterways. For any pastoral system already in place as of 3 September 2020, the provisions take effect at varying dates depending on the stock type and situation (see Stock Exclusion Rules - below). The provisions take effect immediately for any new pastoral system established on or after 3 September 2020.
The stock exclusion rules apply to beef cattle, dairy cows, dairy support cows, pigs, and deer, and are slightly different for each. Sheep are excluded from the Stock Exclusion regulations.
The Stock Exclusion Regulations(external link) require stock on new pastoral systems to be excluded and kept at least 3 metres from the edge of the bed of a lake or a wide river. A wide river is a waterway that has a bed greater than 1 metre wide at any point on the parcel of land. It includes intermittent flowing streams but excludes drains.
Stock must also be fully excluded from wetlands. There is no minimum setback distance.
If a permanent fence* or riparian vegetation that effectively excludes stock was already in place on 5 October 2023, the 3-meter minimum setback doesn’t apply. So you do not need to rip out your permanent fencing!
*A permanent fence or riparian vegetation that existed on 5 October 2023 that effectively excludes stock from the river/lake bed
It is important to understand that as long as the 3-meter setback requirement is met, the method of exclusion does not matter. In circumstances where permanent fencing is not practical (eg flood-prone land), a one-wire fence or temporary tape is acceptable - as long as it effectively excludes stock from our waterways.
The dates by which each stock type must be excluded from waterways are detailed below.
Wetlands
FOOTNOTE: for the purposes of the stock exclusion rules intensive grazing is defined as break feeding, grazing on annual forage crops, or grazing on pasture that has been irrigated with water in the past 12 months.
Stock can cross lakes and rivers if they are supervised and actively driven across the waterbody. Stock cannot cross the same lake or river more than twice in any month.
Where stock will be crossing a river or lake more than twice in any month, a dedicated bridge or culvert must be installed. Check out the rules for installing culverts and bridges here (see page 3) (pdf 332 KB).
Is your head spinning? We appreciate this is a lot of complex information. If you have any questions about the Essential Freshwater Regulations for Stock Exclusion, or any questions about the identification of a wetland on your land, please make direct contact with our Catchment Advisor’s via [email protected]
