Articles tagged with Farmland
Government Commits $28M for Hill Country Erosion Control to Protect Farmland
1 month ago | 323 viewsThe Government is investing nearly $28 million in the Hill Country Erosion Programme (HCEP) to support erosion control projects from 2027 to 2031, aiming to protect productive land and reduce environmental and economic impacts. The programme, established in 2007 and supported by multiple councils and landowners, focuses on treating vulnerable land, creating farm-scale erosion control plans, and building regional capability. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay emphasized the programme’s role in helping farmers prepare for severe weather and safeguarding soil health for future sustainability.
Tags: Todd McClay Hill Country Erosion Programme Agriculture and Forestry Minister Te Uru Rākau New Zealand Forest Service erosion control productive land soil health regional councils farmland protectionGovernment $950K Loan Boosts Māori Farmland Productivity and Regional Growth
1 month ago | 362 viewsThe Government is providing a $950,000 loan through the Regional Infrastructure Fund to the Omuturangi 6E & 7A Ahu Whenua Trust to upgrade farmland infrastructure near Hāwera, enabling increased milking capacity and a 25% boost in milk production. This investment aims to create jobs, support regional growth, and help the trust transition from passive leasing to active farm management while training its people in commercial farming. Without the loan, the land would have reverted to less-productive grazing, but the project will benefit both the trust’s owners and the wider local economy, with construction starting soon.
Tags: Mark Patterson Tama Potaka Omuturangi 6E & 7A Ahu Whenua Trust Māori trust Regional Infrastructure Fund Hāwera Māori Development Minister Rural Communities Minister farmland productivity dairy farmingNew Legislation Protects Farmland from Forest Conversions, Boosting Agriculture Sector
4 months ago | 475 viewsLegislation has been enacted to restrict farm-to-forest conversions on productive farmland, fulfilling a campaign promise by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay. The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme - Forestry Conversion) Amendment Act, effective from October 31, 2025, aims to protect food production, rural communities, and forestry investments. Exotic forests are limited from entering the Emissions Trading Scheme on New Zealand's most productive soils, with exemptions for Māori-owned land and erosion-prone areas, while transitional exemptions are available for qualifying forestry investments made between 2021 and 2024.
Tags: Legislation farmland Agriculture Forestry Minister Todd McClay Climate Change Response Emissions Trading Scheme New Zealand MPI