The New Zealand pork sector fears up to two thirds of pig farms could be impacted by a new National Policy Statement for Highly Productive land (NPS-HPL).
The NPS-HPL directs regional councils to map any land in its region as highly productive if it is in a general rural zone or rural production zone and has a certain land use capability.
Territorial authorities such as district councils must then avoid the inappropriate use or development of highly productive land that is not land-based primary production.
NZPork is concerned the NPS could lead to the exclusion or limitation of pig farming across large parts of rural zones.
It believes the NPS is at odds with the descriptions of rural zones in the National Planning Standards, which provide for intensive indoor primary production as an appropriate land use within the rural zones.
NZPork chief executive Brent Kleiss said while the industry body supports the intent of the policy, it is concerned that the directive could result in intensive pig farming activities being prevented from establishing or expanding existing operations in many rural areas.
Pig farms need to be located on highly productive land as they are often part of a larger farming enterprise incorporating either an arable or pastoral operation.
Effluent from the piggery is applied to the land as a natural fertiliser and the land can in turn grow feed or material for bedding for the pigs.
“As the NPS is currently written, it’s unclear whether indoor oreven outdoor pig farms are deemed reliant on the soil resource if they are located on areas defined as highly productive land.
“Furthermore, the NPS-HPL cost-benefit analysis suggests intensive indoor primary production would need to consider alternative locations.
“This is impractical for existing farms and likely prohibitive for new farms,” Kleiss said.
Given there are no other zones in which pig farms could reasonably be expected to operate, the pork sector fears the NPS could have a significant impact on the future viability of the NZ pork industry.
Nationally, there are less than 100 commercial pig farmers, comprising a relatively small but highly integrated sector of the NZ agricultural economy.
About 55% of NZ’s commercial pig herd is farmed indoors. Many farmers prefer indoor farming because they believe it allows them to provide the best care for the modern animal, allowing them to carefully manage their environment.
Location and climate are a major factor in whether pigs can be farmed outdoors with outdoor breeding only possible in a moderate climate with low rainfall and free-draining soil conditions.
The majority of NZ’s outdoor production is in Canterbury.
