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Planning for Intensive Dairying in the Mackenzie Basin an Inquiry Into Social and Collaborative Planning

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Planning for Intensive Dairying in the Mackenzie Basin an Inquiry Into Social and Collaborative Planning Planning for Intensive Dairying in the Mackenzie Basin An inquiry into social and collaborative planning Tom McKnight A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Planning University of Otago Dunedin, New Zealand 1 November 2013 1 Abstract Intensive dairying is an essential part of the New Zealand economy and has become one of our most important exports. But what are the potential consequences of intensive dairying development into marginal farmland and rural communities? This research focuses on two planning issues within the context of the MacKenzie Basin. The first is to evaluate the potential social effects that intensive dairying will bring to the Mackenzie Basin, and the second is to evaluate the ‘Mackenzie Agreement,’ a collaborative planning strategy that has been developed to provide for both dairying and conservation efforts within the Mackenzie Basin. Specifically this research investigates what potential social changes dairying could bring to the Mackenzie Basin with an emphasis on community participation, community cohesion, and overseas migrant worker wellbeing. Researching into the Mackenzie Agreement investigates why there was a need for an alternative planning approach, and evaluates whether the Mackenzie Agreement will be effective in achieving its goals. Following 17 key informant interviews social impacts of intensive dairying highlighted effects on community participation in such areas as sporting teams and voluntary emergency services, and that the MacKenzie Basin is an isolated area with little current infrastructure or support to assist migrant workers. Developing such support tools were broadly identified as favourable by respondents. There was a joint consensus that the Mackenzie Agreement evolved out of the problems associated with the 2009 water consents hearing for the Upper-Waitaki Catchment. Respondents felt that the current planning framework that was used in the hearing was not adequate enough in terms of its processes, cost, and time efficiency to provide management in the Mackenzie Basin. Respondents also had a consensus that the Mackenzie Agreement would not achieve its goals citing a bad process in its creation, problems of funding, and a lack of Government interest and involvement as core reasons. ii Acknowledgements Thanks to … My supervisor Dr Sarah Mager for her extraordinary supervision skills this year. I appreciate everything you have done for me over the last three years, especially with 380 and your reference that got me into MPLAN in the first place! I took it as an honour being the first MPLAN student you have supervised and I really appreciated your advice and guidance this year. Claire Freeman, Ros Day and Michelle Thompson-Fawcett for their guidance and teaching over the last two years, you have made the MPLAN program a very enjoyable one to be a part of. A special thanks to you all for also having faith in my ability to complete this program. The 5C17 office, Ana, Will, Katrina and Laura, safe to say we went through some highs and lows but managed to get through it in the end. A special thanks to Laura for taking that job in Hawkes Bay half way through the year, for some reason I was a little more productive for it but also had a lot less fun! The other MPlanners for their support and fun times they brought. The last two years have been extremely fun on the social agenda and I look forward to continuing this well into our professional careers. The rest of the geography department, especially Sandra, Christine and Marlene for your support, guidance, and wisdom over the last five years. All of those individuals who helped and participated with my research this year I literally would have not been able to do it without you. My family Mum, Dad, Sam and Amelia for all your support over the last five years. A special thanks to Mum and Dad for all that ‘necessary’ financial support. Lastly to my flatmates for the last two years Nils, Mike, Mitch, James ‘Bad Man’ Kane, Trent, Hamish, Hamish, Adam, and Ryan you lads made the last couple of years an absolute ripsnorter! iii Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vi List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................... vii 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Dairy Farming in New Zealand .............................................................................. 2 1.2 Dairy Farming and the Mackenzie Basin ............................................................... 3 1.3 Research Aim and Objectives ................................................................................. 4 2. The Mackenzie Basin ................................................................................................................ 6 2.1 History of the Mackenzie Country: ........................................................................ 8 2.2 Irrigation in the Mackenzie Country ..................................................................... 11 2.3 Environmental Value of the Mackenzie Basin ..................................................... 15 2.3.1 Ecological History of the Mackenzie Basin ................................................... 16 2.3.2 Naturally Rare Ecosystems ............................................................................ 17 2.3.3 Threatened and at Risk Flora in the Mackenzie Basin ................................... 18 2.3.4 Effects of Intensive Dairying on the Environment......................................... 19 2.4 Social Dimensions of Dairying in the Mackenzie Basin ...................................... 29 2.4.1 Labour Characteristics of the New Zealand Dairy Industry .......................... 30 2.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 37 3. Regulatory Framework for Planning in the Mackenzie Basin ............................................ 39 3.1.1 National Policy Statements (NPS) ................................................................. 41 3.1.2 Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (CRPS) 2013 .................................... 43 3.1.3 Mackenzie District Plan 2004 (MDP) ............................................................ 45 3.2 Collaborative Planning ......................................................................................... 47 3.2.1 The Mackenzie Agreement ............................................................................ 51 3.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 55 4. Research Strategy and Methods ............................................................................................. 56 4.1 Research Design: .................................................................................................. 56 4.2 Data Collection ..................................................................................................... 56 4.2.1 Key Informants ............................................................................................... 57 4.3 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................ 57 4.4 Ethical Considerations .......................................................................................... 58 4.5 Reflections ............................................................................................................ 59 5. Results ....................................................................................................................................... 60 iv 5.1 What Social Challenges can intensive dairying bring to the Mackenzie Basin? .. 60 5.1.1 Decreased Participation in the Wider Community and Impacts of a Transient Population ............................................................................................................... 60 5.1.2 Community Cohesion ..................................................................................... 62 5.1.3 Is there a need to Plan for Overseas Migrant Integration? ............................. 64 5.2 The Origins of the Mackenzie Agreement ............................................................ 67 5.2.1 Shortcomings of the current Planning Framework ........................................ 67 5.2.2 Adequacy of the Current Framework ............................................................. 70 5.2.3 Was it all just an Experiment? ....................................................................... 72 5.3 Can the Mackenzie Agreement achieve its goals? ................................................ 72 5.3.1 Uncertainty about its Implementation and Direction ..................................... 73 5.3.2 A Bad Process Altogether .............................................................................. 74 5.3.3 Past Conflict and Voluntary Approach .......................................................... 76 5.3.4 Identifying Areas of Protection and Preventing Fragmentation ...................
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