President Chris Dillon said the lobbying effort under way in the South could be the first step in a nationwide campaign as southern concerns were echoed elsewhere.
Each of the three political parties now involved in talks to form a new government — National, Act New Zealand and New Zealand First — campaigned on reining in regulation and ending uncertainty faced by farmers, Mr Dillon said.
Along with national president Wayne Langford, in an open letter to Environment Southland chief executive Wilma Falconer and chairman Nicol Horrell, he called on the council to stop consultation under way on the council’s Plan Change Tuatahi and to join forces in calling on the incoming government to delay new rules based on the previous government’s "idealistic" freshwater work programme.
If National MPs kept their word from the leadup to the election, there would be changes to 2020’s national policy statement for freshwater management (NPS-FM), Mr Dillon said.
"It won’t be scrapped.
"It will be a more science-based approach ... a look at the best new science," he said.
"Instead of destroying the whole economy for the sake of a bit of idealism, we’re going to get better results for the whole province.
"We don’t expect the [national policy statement] to be thrown out.
"We expect it to be written in a way that’s good for the environment, good for the people."
The letter to Environment Southland said Southland Federated Farmers had already begun discussions with likely members of the new government about extending timelines for regional land and water plans as a "first step".
This would then be followed by a "comprehensive re-set" of regulations that were not fit for purpose.
"Federated Farmers is urging an incoming government to pause the process to implement the NPS-FM as we don’t think it is appropriate to create more uncertainty and distress for farmers by progressing with new regional plans that will radically reshape farming in New Zealand at any time, let alone a period of economic turbulence," the letter said.
Environment Southland strategy, science and engagement general manager Rachael Millar confirmed the council received the letter.
The council was considering it and would respond "directly to Southland Federated Farmers in due course", she said.
Southland Fish & Game manager Zane Moss said it was disappointing to hear that Southland Federated Farmers wanted to delay work to improve water quality in the region.
Because it was a National government that established the first NPS-FM nearly a decade ago, he could not see the "direction of travel" changing.
Otago Federated Farmers vice-president Anna Gillespie said because the Otago Regional Council (ORC) had already been granted an extension on its land and water plan, the same request would not be made in Otago.
However, it was a real concern Otago’s council could put rules in place that were stricter than those desired by the incoming government, she said.
ORC chief executive Richard Saunders said Environment Southland had made the ORC aware of the letter they received.
The council was committed to notifying a new land and water plan by June 30 next year, Mr Saunders said.
"It is well understood that directions can change from time to time and planning documents must adapt to address these changes," he said.
