Southland Federated Farmers president Chris Dillon says farmers have major reservations about the legislation, which will require councils to identify significant natural areas of biodiversity on public and private land.
Included in the still to be finalised National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, critics view it as a loss of property rights as identified SNAs could restrict what they can do on their land.
Southland District Council Mayor Gary Tong says his council has no control over the final shape of the legislation, but it wants to work with farmers to determine how to meet legislative requirements.
Dillon says farmers have asked the council to not start onsite mapping, believing it not to be the right approach.
“We think the money would be far better spent on actual restoration and maintenance work rather than onsite SNA mapping, but we will review our position on that once the new National Policy Statement (NPS) is out,” Dillon said.
“We will have a better idea and some certainty when the NPS is out, but it is great that we can keep talking and work together with our council for a better outcome for Southland.”
He says the delay was appropriate given policy wording could change what must be mapped, making it a waste of time and money to start mapping now.
Tong says the council was committed to working with Federated Farmers and the farming community.
“We understand the tremendous amount of work our rural community, and beyond, put into looking after the land – significant and special places are that way because of the work landowners have done over many years,” Tong said.
