Abstract
Highly productive land (HPL) in New Zealand faces significant risks due to urban expansion and fragmentation of rural areas into low to medium population density lifestyle blocks. To protect HPL and provide national policy consistency, the central government introduced the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL) in October 2022.
This research examines the early stages of implementing the NPS-HPL in New Zealand from the council’s perspective, focusing on key actions, challenges, positive outcomes, and recommendations for improvement. A survey composed of 14 open-ended and 25 close-ended questions elicited responses from 50 respondents across 13 New Zealand regions, utilising a snowballing technique for respondent selection.
The analysis of the data used a mixed-method approach. The qualitative aspect focused on narrative perceptions regarding the subjective experiences of the respondents related to open-ended question. Simultaneously, the quantitative data derived from closed-ended questions provide objective and measurable information about council’s NPS-HPL implementation in New Zealand.
Councils have implemented numerous proactive initiatives which include transparent land-use planning through GIS mapping, mandating soil reports in resource consents, and collaborating with various stakeholders for HPL mapping. However, survey responses highlighted a notable gap in addressing indigenous perspectives, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts with Māori on environmental management issues.
Challenges faced by councils include resource consenting issues, classification of HPL, and ambiguity in definitions and guidelines. Positive outcomes of NPS-HPL include increased awareness about HPL, improved decision making capabilities for authorities and preventing inappropriate land use development in resource consent decisions.
Councils are advocating for policy reviews and regional flexibility in HPL mapping. Key principles for effective policy involve a comprehensive approach to national direction development and a regulatory system aligned with legal frameworks. Clarity in guidelines is important, emphasising plain language drafting, minimising discretion, and improving public education about regulatory obligations for optimal compliance.
Continuous efforts to improve the clarity of policy guidelines, conduct reviews, and advocate for national consistency in implementing policies, are essential for the long-term success of NPS-HPL implementation.