The article I wrote for the last Canterbury Farming publication generated much interest and feedback. Because of this, the article this month continues with a similar subject, relating to consent replacements and the Resource Management (Consent Duration) Amendment Act.
The purpose of the Act is to provide consent holders with some degree of certainty during the transition associated with of the resource management reforms.
What this new legislation does is automatically extend the expiry date of some resource consents by law. If your consent expires before 31 December 2027, then the duration will automatically extend to that date. This includes replacement applications that the Regional Council may already be processing.
What happens after 31 December 2027?
This is not certain at this stage. Government is proposing that the switch from the RMA to the new resource management system should occur by 2029. The Government has then proposed a further extension to consent durations until two years after the transition period ends. That would take us to 2031.
However, given this further extension is only a proposal at this stage, the details may change as the Bills progress through the legislative process.
In some respects, it will be sensible if there are changes to the current proposals. The setting of these dates provides more certainty and helps to prevent wasted time and costs associated with replacing consents in the transition period. That is a major win for affected consent-holders and so is great news. However, the alignment of dates for replacing consents will mean that consent-holders, their consultants and Regional Councils will be expected to develop and process huge numbers of applications for consents at the same time.
Although some may feel that this is not a problem for the farming community, I am not sure that this is the case. If there is a lack of appropriate expertise to cope with the work, costs are likely to increase, and significant delays are also likely. Such delays would be associated both with getting the applications drawn up in the first place, and with processing by Council.
Given this situation, it would seem sensible for there to be a more staggered or staged approach, rather than fixed dates. A better approach may be to extend consents for a fixed period, with that period applying from the current date of expiry for the consent. This would help manage the resourcing impacts over the transition period, while still providing certainty to existing consent holders that consents will remain in place during this period.
Submissions have been made on this point – hopefully this ‘tweak’ can occur to help prevent significant future resourcing issues.
For those who hold consents that will be expiring soon, you currently have a choice whether to extend the duration of the existing consent, or apply to replace the consent under the existing framework. Most will choose to extend the consent, and this does not require any action: this will happen automatically. However, there are situations where replacing the consent now may be beneficial. Aqualinc Research Limited has Clients in both camps, with the most common reason for proceeding to replace consents now being to provide certainty if there is the possibility of a farm sale in the near future. It may also become something for banks to consider where the consent holder is looking to re-finance.
If you have consents that are due to expire in the next few years, or if you want more information about whether to renew your consent now, or wait, then contact your trusted resource management advisor to discuss your best option.
ENSO and New Zealand water resources
El Niño and La Niña represent the two extremes of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a naturally occurring fluctuation in Pacific Ocean Sea‑surface temperatures that typically operates on a three‑to‑seven‑year cycle.
The importance of irrigation performance checks.
Performance checks are also important to meet Farm Environment Plan requirements associated with your property land use consent, you need to demonstrate that your irrigation system is designed and operating efficiently.
Far from an average irrigation season
The 2025-26 irrigation season has shown us once again that there’s no such thing as an average when it comes to describing the climate factors that drive irrigation demand and supply.
Do your effluent ponds leak? How do you know?
Most dairy effluent storage pond owners believe that their ponds are not leaking, particularly those that have been synthetically lined.
Measuring Water to Manage it Well
From September 2026, all water takes greater than 5 litres per second will need to be measured and recorded every 15 minutes, and the data telemetered directly to the Regional Council.
Renewing Consents
The end of 2025 brought news of a huge amount of proposed change in the resource management space – too much to cover in one article.
A New Chapter for Farming Resource Consents
The major overhaul of the Resource Management Act (RMA) introduces two replacement laws: the Planning Bill, focused on enabling development and land use, and the Natural Environment Bill, dealing with environmental protection and management.
Understanding Source Water Risk Management Areas (Drinking Water Supply Protection Zones) and What They Mean for Rural Landowners
Source Water Risk Management Areas (SWRMAs) are becoming an increasingly important part of New Zealand’s drinking water safety framework, and for rural communities in particular, they can have real and lasting impacts on how land is used.
Consents – they need your attention!
Consent renewal isn't automatic. Understanding what councils are looking for and getting your application right matters more than ever.
We got off lightly, this time.
In Canterbury we’ve been fortunate to have been spared from the drought conditions that have been experienced over the 2024/25 summer in the top of the South Island and parts of the North Island, although parts of North Canterbury have been very dry at times.
Leaky effluent ponds? Prove it!
One of the drivers for proving that effluent storage ponds are not leaking, is the need for farms to operate at a minimum of Good Management Practice (GMP). Ideally the farming operation should be operating at better than GMP.
Will your irrigation consent be renewed?
Consent holders are now frequently asking questions about the renewal process and whether it is going to be possible to renew their irrigation consent.