Farm planning for Māori land
## What this page is for
This page helps Māori landowners, trusts, incorporations, and whānau farms set up a practical farm plan that supports day to day decisions and meets council and national expectations. It focuses on a simple structure you can build up over time.
Farm planning in Aotearoa is changing. Freshwater farm plans are a key part of current settings, and broader resource management reform is underway. Check official updates regularly.
## Māori context first
A farm plan on Māori land often has added realities:
- multiple owners and long decision cycles
- taonga and wāhi tapu that must be protected and often not mapped publicly
- obligations to future generations, not only short term production
- mixed land uses on one whenua block
- strong links between whenua, wai, and moana
Your plan should reflect kaitiakitanga and local tikanga. Keep sensitive layers private by default.
## The simplest structure that works
Start with 6 sections. Keep each section short.
1. Purpose and kaupapa
2. Map pack (your base layers)
3. Risks and priorities (what could go wrong, what matters most)
4. Actions (what you will do, when, and who is responsible)
5. Monitoring (what you measure and how often)
6. Records and assurance (photos, notes, audits, updates)
If you are new to farm planning, MPI has an integrated farm planning work programme and a basic farm plan template that can help you start simple:
- Integrated farm planning work programme: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/funding-rural-support/farming-funds-and-programmes/integrated-farm-planning-work-programme
- Completing a basic farm plan template: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/54013-Taking-an-Integrated-Approach-to-Farm-Planning-Completing-a-basic-farm-plan
## Freshwater farm plans and what they mean
Freshwater farm plans are intended to help identify and manage impacts of farming on freshwater. Official information is here:
- MfE freshwater farm plans guidance: https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/freshwater-implementation-guidance/freshwater-farm-plans/
- MPI freshwater farm plans overview and updates: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/agriculture/farm-management-the-environment-and-land-use/protecting-freshwater-health/freshwater-farm-plans
There have also been legislative changes affecting freshwater farm plans. This MfE fact sheet summarises changes introduced by the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025:
- MfE PDF fact sheet: https://environment.govt.nz/assets/publications/RM-reform/Freshwater-Farm-Plans.pdf
Freshwater requirements are also tied to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, which includes giving effect to Te Mana o te Wai:
- NPS Freshwater Management overview: https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/national-policy-statements/national-policy-statement-freshwater-management/
- Te Mana o te Wai implementation guidance: https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/freshwater-implementation-guidance/te-mana-o-te-wai-implementation/
Council pages often explain how freshwater farm plans apply locally and when they apply. Examples:
- Waikato Regional Council freshwater farm plans: https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/environment/farmers-hub/freshwater-farm-plans/
- Horizons Regional Council freshwater farm plans: https://www.horizons.govt.nz/managing-natural-resources/our-freshwater-future/freshwater-farm-plans
- Environment Canterbury freshwater farm plans: https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/farmers-hub/farming-plans-and-consenting/freshwater-farm-plans
## Resource management reform and what to watch
The resource management system is changing, and councils are adapting. Two major bills were introduced on 9 December 2025:
- Planning Bill page (MfE): https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/acts/planning-bill/
- Natural Environment Bill page (MfE): https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/acts/natural-environment-bill/
If you need the official bill texts:
- Planning Bill on NZ Legislation: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/
- Natural Environment Bill on NZ Legislation: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2025/0234/latest/whole.html
Practical point for farm planning: expect continued change in planning rules, consenting pathways, and how councils recognise plans. Use a plan structure that is easy to update, and keep a log of changes.
## A Māori farm planning map pack
Build a base map pack once, then reuse it.
Core layers:
- farm or whenua boundary used for management (not necessarily legal title)
- streams, drains, wetlands, springs
- catchment and subcatchments
- slope and aspect
- soils and land use capability
- vegetation and indigenous cover
- infrastructure: races, culverts, fences, sheds, tracks, water takes, troughs
- sensitive sites: wāhi tapu, urupā, taonga species areas (private access only)
Useful elevation data for drainage, overland flow, and riparian work:
- LINZ Data Service: https://data.linz.govt.nz/
- LINZ elevation data overview: https://www.linz.govt.nz/products-services/data/types-linz-data/elevation-data
- NZ Coastal LiDAR 1m DEM (where available): https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/122508-new-zealand-coastal-lidar-1m-dem/
- Survey index for coastal LiDAR coverage: https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/122509-new-zealand-coastal-lidar-1m-dem-survey-index/
## Risks and actions that councils often care about
Common risk areas you can map and manage:
- stock access to waterways and wet areas
- erosion prone slopes and bare ground
- nutrient loss pathways, including critical source areas
- sediment sources from tracks, races, gateways, stream crossings
- wetlands and riparian margins
- irrigation and water takes
- wintering and feed pads
Turn each risk into:
- a mapped location or management zone
- one or more actions
- a due date
- a person responsible
- a monitoring method
## Iwi and hapū planning documents as a strong foundation
Many iwi and hapū have iwi management plans or environmental management plans that can guide farm and catchment decisions and also help when engaging with councils.
Examples:
- Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Environmental Management Plan (PDF): https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/assets/Documents/Te-Runanga-o-Kaikoura-Environmental-Management-Plan.pdf
- Ngāti Whaoa Iwi Environmental Management Plan (PDF): https://waikatoriver.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ngaati\_tahu\_ngaati\_whaoa\_iwi\_emp.pdf
- Te Tangi a Tauira, Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku Iwi Management Plan (PDF): https://www.es.govt.nz/repository/libraries/id%3A26gi9ayo517q9stt81sd/hierarchy/about-us/plans-and-strategies/regional-plans/iwi-management-plan/documents/Te%20Tangi%20a%20Tauira%20-%20The%20Cry%20of%20the%20People.pdf
Use these as kaupapa references in your plan. Do not copy sensitive content into public facing farm plan documents.
## A simple data table that works for beginners
Keep your farm plan action table short and consistent:
- ID
- location name
- theme (wai, whenua, taiao, infrastructure)
- risk
- action
- who
- when
- evidence (photo, field note, measurement)
- status
## Checks used before publishing this page
- no citation artefacts such as oaicite or contentReference
- front matter is valid YAML
- headings are unique and ordered
- all links are plain URLs, not shortened
- official sources preferred for regulatory settings (MfE, MPI, NZ Legislation, councils, LINZ)
- examples are clearly labelled as examples, not universal rules