Taupō farmer warned over nitrogen cap breaches
A sheep & beef farmer has been formally warned for breaching the Resource Management Act by exceeding a nitrogen discharge cap on
properties in the Lake Taupō catchment over a two year period.
It is the first warning issued by Waikato Regional Council under the new Variation 5 consenting regime designed to
protect the lake’s health from nitrogen, which can leach into waterways and cause nuisance algae.
The warning came after it was discovered more than a tonne of excess nitrogen could eventually leach into the lake as a
result of the farmer’s operations over the two years. By themselves the breaches are not expected to have a major
detrimental effect on the lake’s future health.
“However, it’s important that farmers and others are aware that we will continue to monitor farming operations. We will
hold people to account if they negligently or deliberately breach resource consents. This is not only for the health of
the lake but also in fairness to all those working within their cap,” said the council’s farming services manager Nicole
Botherway.
“This case is particularly unfortunate as the farmer has personally been involved in efforts to protect the lake. He has
been open and co-operative, and acknowledged he did not do things properly on the properties concerned,” she said.
“It’s a situation where more attention needed to be paid to adhering to the details of the farm’s nutrient management
plan. We are serious about protecting the financial investment that Waikato Regional Council, Taupō District Council,
Ngāti Tūwharetoa and central Government are making in protecting the lake.”
The council’s warning letter to the farmer, who is not being identified, said the breaches occurred because the farmer
did not farm in accordance with his registered nitrogen management plan and failed to inform the council he was
deviating from the plan. The breaches totalled an extra 1030 kilogrammes of potential nitrogen leaching in total.
Mrs Botherway said the reasons for the breaches by the farmer included a range of technical factors, including more
stock being carried on the farm than was proposed under the farm’s nitrogen management plan. Other factors included
carrying older and different breeds of stock than identified in the plan, the application of nitrogen fertiliser and
less supplements made on the property than proposed.
ENDS