Environment

Introduction
The New Zealand Pork industry is at the forefront of environmental management both in New Zealand and internationally. A number of activities on farm need to be managed to ensure a high level of environmental stewardship. Pork producers are also required to ensure compliance with the rules and corresponding conditions on resource consents as controlled by district and regional councils - through the Resource Management Act (RMA).

The pork industry has always had a strong commitment to continuous improvement in the efficiency with which inputs are used, the way in which land and water resources are maintained and enhanced and the methods by which by-products of pork production are utilised to add value to other agricultural enterprises.

In supporting the industry New Zealand Pork’s strategies are to:

• Ensure the industry maintains its leadership position of environmental stewardship under the auspices of “being a good neighbour” and “being a good steward”. This is underpinned by ensuring that good practice environmental management is implemented throughout the industry.
• Achive a significant reduction in consent and compliance costs.

To achieve this New Zealand Pork focuses in three key areas:

1. Actively engaging in the wider debate about farming and the environment; support movements to improve the RMA system; and collaborate on primary sector initiatives for the development of sustainable farming systems, integrating economic and environmental values.
2. Work with producers, national and regional authorities to ensure that both producers and regulators needs can be met through practical and science based approaches to environmental management .
3. Invest in science and technologies and develop tools that can enhance producers’ ability to produce pork on both and economically and environmentally sustainable basis.