About this consultation
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is leading this consultation.
On this web page, we have some background information and a summary of what is proposed.
Further details, consultation documents, and information about how to make a submission are on MfE's website.
Consultation on pricing agricultural emissions – MfE
Related documents
Impacts of climate change mitigation policy scenarios on the primary sector [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Feasibility assessment of simple farm level emission returns [PDF, 1.3 MB]
Government media release
Pragmatic proposal to reduce agricultural emissions and enhance exports and economy – Beehive
Background to this consultation
Agricultural emissions will be priced in Aotearoa New Zealand from 2025.
In 2019, the Government, primary sector, and iwi/Māori agreed to work together through the He Waka Eke Noa Primary Sector Action Partnership to develop an effective system to measure, manage, reduce, and price agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
The partnership's industry and Māori partners presented the Government with their recommendations in May 2022.
The Government has been considering the partnership's recommendations, alongside advice from the Climate Change Commission.
Recommendations from He Waka Eke Noa
Advice from the Climate Change Commission
Summary of what’s being proposed
The Government plans to introduce a farm-level levy on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in Aotearoa New Zealand from 2025. Feedback is being sought on:
- a farm-level, split gas levy for pricing emissions
- 2 options for pricing synthetic nitrogen fertiliser emissions
- an interim processor-level levy, as a transitional step, if the farm-level pricing system cannot be implemented in time
- recognition for some categories of sequestration in an adjacent contractual system from 2025, with the long-term goal of integration of new vegetation categories into the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.
Making your submission
Submissions must be received by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) by 11:59pm on 18 November 2022.
Information about how to make a submission is on MfE's website.
Consultation on pricing agricultural emissions – MfE
Submissions are public information
Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website, or the website of MfE. 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 or MfE make to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.
