Government Planning Reforms A Good First Step For Horticulture Sector

10 December 2025, NZ: Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says the Government’s proposed planning reforms are a positive first step toward a more workable system so growers can keep producing fresh fruit and vegetables for New Zealanders.

“The proposals signal that the Government is serious about ensuring New Zealand has a thriving horticulture sector and that Kiwis can continue to enjoy access to locally grown produce,” says HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott.

“However, we need to see the regulatory detail to better understand if the changes will achieve measurable outcomes for growers.

“This level of detail is expected to come through secondary legislation, national policy direction and national standards in 2026 and 2027. 

“This will be critical to understanding outcomes for growers, especially around permitting commercial vegetable production, water storage, environmental limits and freshwater standards.

“Growers will be looking for clear signals that the changes recognise the national importance of food production and provide a framework that enables sustainable long-term investment.

“Commercial vegetable growers in particular have dealt with significant uncertainty in recent years, and they will be hopeful that these reforms lead to clearer, more practical rules.

“Enabling essential infrastructure, such as water storage, and ensuring our most productive land remains available for high-value food production, are fundamental to the resilience of the sector. As always, the impact will depend on how these intentions are translated into policy.”

Scott says today’s proposals show that the Government has listened to growers’ concerns.

“These reforms are a step towards ensuring food can continue to be grown in the right places, in a way that supports economic, environmental and outcomes for communities up and down the country. We look forward to working with the Government as the details are developed.”

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