“The panel has achieved a good balance between extending the city’s boundaries into rural areas while protecting the ability of the horticulture community to grow,” said HortNZ Chief Executive, Mike Chapman.

The industry body said that there is food grown in Pukekohe and around Auckland, which cannot be grown anywhere else in the country at certain times of the year. The panel’s recommendations, if accepted by Council, will help to ensure New Zealanders and Aucklanders can continue to have access to locally grown vegetables year-round.

HortNZ noted that Pukekohe Hill – 170ha of land southwest of Pukekohe used for growing vegetables – must be zoned rural, protecting it from future development. Previously it had been included in the Rural Urban Boundary and available for housing development. Subdivision of this area would have significantly affected aquifer recharge and ultimately reduced water quality and quantity for the entire Franklin district.

However, the independent panel did not accept all of Horticulture NZ’s proposals for the water management regime. “This is a concern as ongoing access to water is essential for growing crops – and ultimately ensuring food security for the Auckland region and New Zealand,” Chapman said. “A lack of access to water will constrain growth significantly. We will be having conversations with the Council as they develop a strategic plan for water and food security.”

The panel has also accepted HortNZ’s submission to protect all land containing elite soils – about 1% of land across the Auckland region, perfect for growing crops – from inappropriate subdivision, use and development.

 However prime soils, which are a very high quality soil, do not receive the same protection, with the panel recommending it is only “protected where it is practicable to do so”.

“Existing cropping operations are afforded some protection from incompatible land use but it doesn’t go far enough,” Chapman said.

“Council must put in place effective mechanisms to protect prime land in growing areas. If that doesn’t happen, prime land could be very quickly become houses; and ultimately that would mean more expensive vegetables for consumers and reduced water quality.”

The independent panel acknowledged the challenge of reverse sensitivity and made a number of recommendations to protect the rights of growers to continue to operate. This includes shifting the responsibility onto developers to mitigate noise.

“Horticultural businesses are not 9am-5pm businesses. At times they operate 24-7 to deliver green veges, potatoes and carrots to consumers. We’re pleased the panel has recognised that to grow vegetables, we need to protect the land and ensure businesses can do their business every day, unimpeded by unrealistic requirements to reduce noise. Overall, the recommendations are positive for horticulture. However, we are cautious given they must first be accepted by Council.  

“We encourage the Council to accept the panel’s recommendations and to consider in more detail the water access issues. Any decisions they make that negatively affect the horticulture industry will ultimately affect consumers in the back pocket. Less land and stricter rules for growing equals more expensive vegetables for Kiwis.”