Following reply 32965 (2026), was the inclusion of a policy consultation option to remove Te Mana o te Wai provisions from national direction based on a suggestion from agricultural industry stakeholders?

Answer

Coalition agreements commit the Government to replacing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and rebalance Te Mana o te Wai to better reflect the interests of all water users. My colleagues and I considered a wide range of views about how to improve freshwater management for the benefit of all New Zealanders. That includes the views of farmers impacted by national direction under the Resource Management Act 1991, and is why ultimately we sought public feedback on a wide range of options.