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Potential amendments to the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land

About this consultation

The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are jointly running this consultation.

On this page, we have some background information and a summary of potential amendments to the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL).

Further details, consultation documents, and information about how to make a submission are on MfE's website. This consultation is open for submissions between 5 September and 31 October 2023.

Managing highly productive land – Ministry for the Environment

Background to this consultation

The NPS-HPL came into force in October 2022.

The objective of the NPS-HPL is to protect highly productive land so it can be used for land-based primary production. To do this, the NPS-HPL restricts inappropriate use, development, or subdivision of highly productive land.

Highly productive land provides significant economic and employment benefits to communities and underpins the value of Aotearoa New Zealand's primary sector.

National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land 2022

Summary of potential amendments to the NPS-HPL

Feedback is being sought on potential amendments to the NPS-HPL.

Since the policy was introduced, 2 issues have been raised about its restrictions on the use and development of highly productive land for activities that don't rely on soil.

Only these 2 issues are being consulted on. They are the:

  • lack of a clear consent pathway for the construction of new specified infrastructure on highly productive land in clause 3.9(2)(j)(i). Specified infrastructure can include developments such as solar farms and infrastructure needed at pace, for example to support the recovery after Cyclone Gabrielle.
  • absence of a clear consent pathway for developing and relocating intensive indoor primary production and greenhouses on highly productive land.

Making your submission

Submissions must be received by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) by 11.59pm on 31 October 2023.

Information about how to make a submission is on MfE's website.

Managing highly productive land – Ministry for the Environment

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

MPI business units