Episode 102 – Subdivision of rural land – facts and fiction

In this episode, Phil Journeaux shares his strong thoughts on the failings of the New Zealand’s National Policy Statement (NPS) for Highly Productive Land and how the Ministry for the Environment’s ‘economically viable’ metric was flawed.

Guest:

• Phil Journeaux, Consulting Agricultural Economist

Host:

• Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide

Phil, a consulting agricultural economist shares his experience with NPS-HPL in representing a landowner in court who was in one of the hotly contested Land Use Class wanting to subdivide. His debate in protecting productive land and meeting housing demand isn’t accurate and the driving issue including urban expansion and population growth takes precedent. He also explains the difference between economically viable and sustainable land, that it’s the role of landowners to drive productivity, and why evidence-based planning and careful policy design will be critical in balancing food production, housing needs, and long-term land management.

Read the article featuring Phil here: 

https://country-wide.co.nz/subdivision-of-rural-land-facts-and-fiction