HortNZ Marks Successful End Of Growing Change Freshwater Programme
06 July 2026, NZ: HortNZ is marking the successful completion of its four-year Growing Change programme, which has helped hundreds of growers prepare for freshwater farm plan requirements and strengthen freshwater management across key growing areas.
Delivered in partnership with the Ministry for the Environment, Growing Change provided targeted on-farm support, training and practical resources in areas where freshwater risks are higher.
The programme focused on ten catchments: Waimea, Manawatū/Horowhenua, Ohakune, Pukekohe/Waikato, Selwyn, Central Otago, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Northland and Bay of Plenty.
Through the programme, growers received targeted support to complete Farm Environment Plans through the NZGAP Environment Management System, alongside access to technical workshops and freshwater training.
The programme has finished well ahead of its key delivery targets, with 228 farm plans completed against a target of 85. These plans cover 51,444 hectares in total, including 41,107 hectares of productive land.
It also supported 829 people to receive freshwater-related training, more than double the programme target of 394, building capability among growers, staff, advisers and others working across the horticulture sector.
Kate Scott, chief executive of HortNZ, says the project set out to build capacity and capability within the horticulture sector to deliver Good Agricultural Practice freshwater farm plans.
“We believe this has been delivered, and we have built enduring solutions to support growers to continue to manage freshwater risks into the future.
“The results show growers are taking practical, proactive steps to meet freshwater expectations while continuing to produce healthy food for New Zealanders.
“Growing Change has helped growers move from uncertainty to action, providing the tools, advice and training needed to understand freshwater risks and put practical plans in place.
“Growers are facing significant challenges, including access to natural resources, climate pressures, and capability and capacity constraints in the freshwater space. Growing Change has helped turn those challenges into practical steps growers can take now.
“This is a great example of what can be achieved when government and industry work together on practical, grower-focused support.”
Growing Change was funded through the Essential Freshwater Fund, administered by the Ministry for the Environment.
Funding covered the review and update of HortNZ’s environmental codes of practice, the NZGAP Environment Management System module, delivered the freshwater management micro-credential along with other training opportunities and resources.
The updated codes of practice provide a practical, step-by-step approach to managing risks to freshwater, in particular the risk of nutrient and sediment losses from horticultural production. There are workbooks to accompany the codes to make it easier for growers to adopt practices that match their level of risk.
The NZGAP Environment Management System (EMS) is being updated to remain relevant for regional farm environment plans, align with freshwater farm plan regulations, and reflect HortNZ’s updated codes of practice. The EMS update will provide growers with a horticulture-focused, industry-led pathway to meet their compliance requirements.
“Most growers have Good Agricultural Practice plans, whether through NZGAP or GLOBALG.A.P,” says Scott.
“Through these programmes, growers are already on the journey to managing environmental risks in their operations. The NZGAP EMS is designed to respond to New Zealand regulation, and growers using the EMS can have confidence it can help them meet the rules.”
The NZQA-approved micro-credential, Assess and manage risks to freshwater from horticultural production, delivered through Primary ITO and Fruition Horticulture, is based on HortNZ’s environmental codes of practice. The course continues to be available to support ongoing freshwater capability across the sector.
The Growing Change programme also produced six videos demonstrating mātauranga Māori freshwater practices in commercial growing.
Most videos feature Māori-owned growing operations or growers working with local iwi and Māori landowners, showing how sustainable practices and Te Ao Māori can be integrated into freshwater management.
While central government continues to finalise Resource Management Act reforms, work is continuing on how industry assurance programmes such as NZGAP can be recognised to deliver audited and certified freshwater farm plans, says Scott.
“The intention is that growers who have completed the NZGAP Environment Management System add-on through Growing Change will be able to use the same assurance system to certify their freshwater farm plans.”
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