This month, the McDonald Real Estate rural team contacted the trusted team at Landpro. This article dives into his expert perspective on the recent and upcoming changes to rural regulations. 

Read on to learn more about what to consider when purchasing a farm, the upcoming regulatory changes, and how Landpro can help. 

Landpro NZ

We are a New Zealand-owned and operated environmental consultancy with offices in New Plymouth and Stratford, along with our South Island hubs in Cromwell, Wanaka, and Gore. We champion the environment but also recognise that this can’t be at the expense of progress and development. 

That’s our sweet spot – balancing what’s good for the planet with the commercial outcomes our clients seek, ensuring better environments and better returns. 

Before we start any project we ask the hard questions, interrogate the possibilities and only recommend solutions that genuinely deliver the best outcomes. We pride ourselves on not taking the path of least resistance, to having a long-term environmental view whilst being commercially astute to deliver Better Returns.

What to think about when purchasing a farm 

Regulatory and environmental risks are vital considerations for a farming business. Depending on the circumstances, they can add cost or value, risk or opportunity. The experts at Landpro recommend considering the following factors:

• Water availability and security.
• Effluent consents – nature and duration. 
• Wetlands & associated restrictions.
• Implications of conversion (dry stock or dairy support). 
• Soil type and slope and related critical source areas.
• Current and future nutrient loading capacity.

Subdivision 

Subdividing can be an important aspect of a purchase if the intention is to subdivide to release some capital. Before taking that step, consider the following questions:

• Is your land productive?
• What are the council rules?
  
  

How long will it take? 

This depends on which mandatory requirements are already covered by your farm planning and resources, and how long new ones will take to complete. Regardless, taking the time to complete these steps will ensure your operations are not compromised. 

How Landpro can help you

To help farmers achieve balance, Landpro has built a business with the breadth of services and the depth of expertise to look holistically at both sides of the equation. The team are adept at several key services, including Aerial survey & geospatial, Environmental science, Farm environmental management, Planning & resource management, and Surveying. 

As a team of planning and environmental specialists, Landpro can help you navigate the unknown territory of the Resource Management Act (RMA), Freshwater Farm Plans (FFP) and National Policy Statement (NPS) in a practical, no-nonsense way. Contact them today for help with the following:

• Aerial Surveying and Geospatial Mapping
• Farm Environmental 
• Planning and Resource Management 
• Environmental Science 
• Surveying 

For more information on how Landpro can help you, please contact the local team on 06 769 5631 or pop into one of their offices at 57 Vivian Street New Plymouth or 275 Broadway Stratford.