Proposed Bay Of Plenty Policy Statement

John & Wendy Roe127 South RoadR.D.2 Rotorua

Who We Are

We are privileged to be dry stock farming 212ha on South Road, Mamaku on the Mamaku Plateau. 576 metres above sea level and approximately 10 kilometres  from  lake Rotorua at Ngongotaha.  There are no streams or rivers on our property.  We are the fourth and fifth generation of our family to be working this land. John’s great-great grandfather came to Mamaku in the 1890’s established a mill and logged land between the railway line and State Highway 5.  The family acquired land, milled timber for a number of years, then started farming the cleared land.  “Bush sickness” – later attributed to Cobalt deficiency forced them off the land in the 1920s – they returned in 1945 and took up farming again. The Roes were one of the earliest dairy farmers in Mamaku.  In  1984, we purchased part of that dairy farm along  with adjoining land and set up a dry stock farm. John’s brother purchased the rest of the dairy farm.

We inherited Land Encouragement loans and Livestock Incentive schemes from the family partnership  part of Government policy to encourage farming development.  Saddled with repaying these loans and with a new mortgage, we also farmed our way through the tough times of the mid 80s when interest rates soared and agricultural prices slumped. 

1984 ~ Our Early Objectives

In  1984 we had a number of very important early objectives: a) To sustainably develop the land of cut over bush and heaps

of logs into productive pastoral land. b)   To retain the native bush on the property. c)   Fence off native bush to protect existing species & promote regeneration.

We currently  farm livestock on approximately 180 ha –32 hectares of native bush   retained in pockets around our farm part of which was fenced off as part of the Upper Kaituna catchment.  We fenced off more bush  to protect existing species and allow re-growth.  As part of an ongoing target on the farm and recently completed an Environment Plan with QEII Trust and the Regional Council to fence off more native bush, when we planted approximately 7000 native trees. 

The catchment fencing has created a natural and permanent buffer for seepage into what could be termed the headwater catchment for the Ngongotaha Stream.   We initiated some of this fencing before the (then) Catchment Commission   became involved and we signed up with the land retirement scheme.  We maintain all fences, etc. to continue to protect it – at an ongoing annual cost to our farm.  As farmers, we care for and protect our environment.  We take great pride in our guardianship and nurturing of the land we farm.  We have complied with Environment Bay of Plenty’s “rule 11”.  We constantly review and minimise farm costs and monitor effects of our stock, fertiliser, pasture management, pest control policies, to name a few. 

What We Do

Nutrient Losses:

We met with Environment Bay of Plenty, provided fertiliser and stocking information and records etc. and completed all the forms required in 2005. When we enquired after the original information it could not be found! So, last year we went through the process again.  It was extremely stressful – locating information from nearly ten years ago about which day and which month everything happened.  We have since realised that different officers have accepted different levels of information – which shows the whole process to be inconsistent..  We are encouraged by the formation of the dairy farmers’ collective – this surely will bring together all the information necessary to facilitate  benchmarks, along with the expertise, will and resources to really mitigate nutrient losses into the catchment.   

Part 1.4 - Purpose & Content of the Regional

Policy Statement Whilst this statement refers to and utilises Section 59 of the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991, whereby it outlines sustainable management, there is no reference to the Local Government Act (LGA) 2002.

Ministry for the Environment Publication, “The Effects of Rural Land Use on Water Quality” (July 2004)  states...

“Local authorities manage water quality under two key pieces of legislation: the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 which has a sustainable management focus and the Local Government Act (LGA) 2002 which has a sustainable development focus.

Sustainable development embodies the concept of "getting more, from less, for longer" [Towards Sustainable Development: The Role of the Resource Management Act 1991, Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, August 1998.] and has been defined as:

"development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" and involves: ~"Looking after people.   ~Taking a long-term view. ~Taking into account effects on social, cultural, economic and environmental dimensions. ~Participation and partnerships" [The Government's Approach to Sustainable Development, August 2002, p6.] “

There is little evidence of any of the above in relation to farming within the Lake Rotorua catchment to date. 

Part 1.4 – Continued...

Part 1.4 – Continued...Sustainable management means:

"managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being and for their health and safety while:

a) Safeguarding the potential of foreseeable needs of future generations; and b) Safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; and c) Avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment." [Resource Management Act 1991, Section 5 Purpose.]

This publication goes on to state ....”There is considerable overlap between the concepts as both embody the ideas of sustainability; consider intergenerational issues; involve participation of people and communities; and consider social, economic, environmental and cultural values.” © Crown copyright 1998-2011 |

We submit that the Regional Council includes greater consideration to the social, economic and cultural impacts of this policy.

“...In catchments at risk, the Statement sets overall target levels to which specific contaminants are to be reduced, including nitrogen into Lake Rotorua in particular, but does not dictate how the reduction is to be achieved. The Regional Water and Land Plan requires managed reduction of discharges until each at-risk catchment’s target level is met.”

We submit that the Regional Council includes greater consideration to the social, economic and cultural impacts of this Summary of policies and methods.

Part 2.10.1 ~ Page 74

The new target for nitrogen exports from land to the lake of 435 tonnes per annum.  Given that the Lakes Rotorua & Rotoiti Action Plan (2009) estimates exports from land at 746 tonnes per annum and the new target identified in this policy for nitrogen exports from land to lake is 435 tonnes – the Regional Council is looking for a reduction of 311 Tonnes per annum! That equates to just over 40%!    Policy WL 6B specifies the new target of 435 tonnes may be authorised only until 2019.  There is no guidance as to when in 2019 or what may happen if this target is not met. The financial restraints already through Rule 11 have seriously impacted our family business.  Policy WL 6B creates uncertainty about our farming viability and future.  Our children are already working alongside us and looking to the future here.  We again submit that the Regional Council includes greater consideration to the social, economic and cultural impacts of this policy.

Policy WL3B– Establishing contaminant discharge limits for

catchments at risk  and  Policy WL 6B  (pages 122-124)

As farmers we accept and support the need for improvement of water quality in Lake Rotorua.  We are particularly aware that nutrients from farms may be contributing to this problem.  We are keen (along with other farmers in the region) to mitigate such nutrient losses.  We are keen to work with Environment Bay of Plenty Regional Council and any other organisation   towards this goal. 

The unfortunate state of water quality in Lake Rotorua has built up over decades – diffuse discharges of nutrients from land into groundwater and ultimately the lake are only one contributor.  A robust plan to mitigate such discharges is desirable.   There is an urgent need for co-operation between all parties in order to achieve such an adventurous target. We urge the Regional Council to urgently consult with affected parties and their representatives, to share their pools of knowledge, research, resources and technology and to work together towards this common goal. 

The world needs food and we, as pastoral farmers in New Zealand, are ideally placed to provide it. Pastoral farming is a major part of the nation’s economy and adds a great deal to the  Bay of Plenty  region – millions of dollars into the local economy annually  – employment, etc.  Farmers have a significant role in the social and cultural aspects of our community.  Over 100 years of farming in this region haven’t just built farms, but also communities.  

To Conclude: