Federated Farmers has released a new 25-point election policy priority manifesto, 'Backing Kiwi Farmers,' calling on political parties to commit to scrapping resource consents and replacing them with farm plans. The organization argues that the current resource consent system is costly and inefficient for farmers.
The manifesto, published ahead of the 2026 general election, outlines key priorities including reducing regulatory burdens and improving freshwater management through farm plans. Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford stated that farm plans would provide a more practical and effective approach to environmental management.
According to the manifesto, farm plans would be tailored to individual properties and focus on outcomes rather than prescriptive rules. The organization is seeking commitments from all major political parties to adopt this approach as part of their election platforms.
