Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Cultivation - A6274469

For this decision summary:

• LINZ received the application before 17 November 2022
• accordingly, the decision was made under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 excluding the amendments taking effect on 17 November 2022.

Cultivation

5 years with maintenance rights

For the part of the consent that was granted

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has determined that there are significant farming benefits to the proposed cultivation at the areas recommended for approval. Appropriate conditions can be applied to avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effects on the land.

We consider that maintaining the existing cultivation at the Homestead and Shanty areas will make it easier to farm and will help provide more abundant and better quality feed for stock. This will have benefits in terms of better animal performance and health. The additional feed made in these areas will also improve the properties ability to get stock through winter or droughts. There are no inherent values present on these areas.

For the Tipping Block site, the additional feed will enable stock to be held near the yards easier, and allow the stock to keep their condition better. By having better pasture near the yards, stock can be handled at this location rather than needing to return to the front of the property. This will provide considerable savings in cost and time for the farming operation. While there are some inherent values present, declining a significant part of the application and placing conditions on the approval should avoid, reduce, remedy or mitigate the adverse effects on these.

For the part of the consent that was declined

It is considered that for the areas recommended for decline, the adverse effects on the inherent values are significant and that any conditions will not adequately avoid, remedy or mitigate these adverse effects. These inherent values include:

• Threatened and At Risk plant species, including New Zealand mousetail.
• Wetland ecosystems that support ephemeral turf vegetation. Some of the wetland is ephemeral wetland which is a naturally uncommon ecosystem classified as Critically Endangered.

Adverse effects are likely to include a change in the community composition of the site and/or destruction of the inherent values of importance.

Consent is granted in part for cultivation, subject to the following conditions:

For Homestead and Shanty areas

1. That cropping/cultivation is limited to the approved areas as indicated on the map attached to the Notice of Decision.
2. That within the approved areas as defined on the map attached to the Notice of Decision, cropping/cultivation will only occur on land that has previously been cultivated. That is, no new areas will be cultivated within the approved areas shown on the map.
3. That the cropping cycle is restricted to two winter green feed crops only. Following two years of winter green feed cropping, the areas will be sown down in permanent pasture.
4. . Break crops cannot include lupins or other species likely to spread.
5. The return cultivation cycle is restricted to not more than once in every 6 years.
6. Cultivation will only occur when soil conditions are moist and there is little to no wind.
7. Continued inputs of maintenance fertiliser are applied to extend the effective life of the permanent pasture to reduce the need and frequency for renewal cultivation.
8. That all contractors and employees of Matangi Station engaged in working under this consent are informed of the conditions of this consent.

For Tipping Block

1. That cultivation is limited to the approved areas as indicated on the map attached to the Notice of Decision.
2. At the areas approved for cultivation at Tipping Block, cultivation shall only be carried out by direct drilling.
3. Planting is limited to perennial pasture species and/or clovers only. Winter green feed/crops shall not be planted at Tipping Block
4. Winter green feed/crops shall not be planted at Tipping Block.
5. That no cultivation shall occur within 20m of any waterway, pond, or tarn within the areas approved.
6. That no cultivation shall occur within 10m of any rocky outcrop within the approved areas.
7. That no cultivation shall occur where tussock grassland forms the main vegetation cover within the approved areas.
8. No spraying out of existing cover will occur at this site prior to direct drilling.
9. The return cultivation cycle is restricted to not more than once in every 6 years.
10. Continued inputs of maintenance fertiliser are applied to extend the effective life of the permanent pasture to reduce the need and frequency for renewal of cultivation.
11. The Lessee shall keep records of the areas cultivated annually and provide these records to the Commissioner of Crown Lands or its delegate, on request, to ensure ongoing compliance with this consent.
12. That all contractors and employees of Matangi Station are informed of the conditions of this consent prior to cultivation commencing.

The Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 provides that permission to undertake the activity may still be needed under other enactments.