Production agriculture and plantations
Land used principally for primary production, where native vegetation has largely been replaced by introduced species through clearing, the sowing of new species, the application of fertilisers, or the dominance of volunteer species. Includes plantation forests, pasture production for stock, cropping and fodder production, and horticultural production.
2.1.0 Plantation forests
Section titled “2.1.0 Plantation forests”Land on which plantations of trees or shrubs (native or exotic species) have been established (i.e. planted) for production, or environmental and resource protection purposes, including carbon forestry.
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An area managed for pulpwood or saw-log production, or for carbon sequestration and carbon credits (exotic species).
An area managed for pulpwood or saw-log production, or for carbon sequestration and carbon credits (native species).
An area managed for non-pulpwood production, including oil, wildflowers, and honey plantations.
An area managed for environmental and indirect production uses (e.g. prevention of land degradation, windbreaks, shade, and shelter) where trees or shrubs have been planted.
2.2.0 Grazing modified pasture systems
Section titled “2.2.0 Grazing modified pasture systems”Grazing pasture and/or forage systems based on significant active modification or replacement of the natural vegetation.
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Land on which milking cows (or other stock, such as goats or sheep) are grazed during the milking season, where dairy is the primary purpose of the land.
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Non-milking platform grazing land with higher inputs (e.g. fertiliser), higher likelihood of irrigation, and higher stocking rates; typically on flat or rolling terrain.
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Grazing on modified pastures with relatively fewer inputs, lower likelihood of irrigation, and lower stocking rates; more likely on hill, hard-hill, or high-country terrain.
2.3.0 Short-rotation and seasonal cropping
Section titled “2.3.0 Short-rotation and seasonal cropping”This class includes agricultural practices characterised by the cultivation of crops with rapid turnover cycles and seasonal planting patterns, typically optimised for efficient land use and high-yield production.
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Predominantly grain, seed, or fodder crops (and over time may include vegetable rotations). May be used for dairy support.
Predominantly grain, seed, or fodder crops; over time it may include short-term (c. 1–3 years) pasture and livestock rotations, and/or vegetable rotations. Pasture and livestock rotations may occur less than 50% of the time..
Crop plants living for less than 2 years that are intensively cultivated; predominantly rotations of vegetable crops or seasonal fruits grown for human consumption.
Cultivation of seasonal ornamental flowers, bulbs, and turf grass for commercial purposes.
2.4.0 Perennial horticulture
Section titled “2.4.0 Perennial horticulture”Crop plants living for more than 2 years that are intensively cultivated, usually involving a relatively high degree of nutrient, weed, and moisture control.
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Long-term cultivated plants, typically trees or woody shrubs, grown for fruits, nuts, or other edible parts. These crops require intensive management practices aimed at ensuring optimal growth, productivity, and quality over multiple years.
Fruit-bearing plants that grow on vines or trailing stems, often requiring support structures (e.g. trellises, arbours). These plants produce fruits that typically hang from vines and may include grapes, kiwifruit, and passionfruit. Vine fruit cultivation involves specific management practices such as pruning, training, trellising, and pest and disease control specific to vine plants.
Perennial plants beyond tree crops and vine fruits, such as berries (e.g. strawberries, blueberries), perennial herbs (e.g. lavender, rosemary), and ornamental perennials (e.g. roses, lilies).
2.5.0 Intensive horticulture
Section titled “2.5.0 Intensive horticulture”Intensive forms of plant production, often with special-purpose improvements used for horticultural production.
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Specialised intensive horticultural facilities dedicated to propagating and growing plants for commercial purposes (outdoor or under cover).
Controlled-environment structures for protected cultivation of plants, including vegetable and floriculture production.
2.6.0 Intensive animal production
Section titled “2.6.0 Intensive animal production”Intensive forms of non-pastoral animal production, livestock production facilities, or animal-holding yards.
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Facilities or systems designed to confine and manage animals, including feed lots, pens, dairy sheds and yards, and herd homes, where animals are raised intensively for meat production or other purposes.
Specialised dacilities dedicated to the intensive production of domestic fowl (e.g. chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese) for meat or egg production.
Facilities designed for the intensive rearing of pigs.
Establishments focused on the breeding and raising of horses.
Controlled cultivation of aquatic organisms (e.g. fish, molluscs, algae) in natural or artificial environments, typically for food production, but also for stock feeds, pharmaceutical uses, biofuels, etc.
2.7.0 Water and wastewater
Section titled “2.7.0 Water and wastewater”Built water features associated with agricultural use.
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Reservoirs or farm dams on agricultural land for the purpose of supplying drinking-water for stock.
Effluent ponds typically associated with dairying.
Land used for effluent disposal
Constructed or natural wetlands used to improve water quality prior to discharge.
Land used for water storage, management, or distribution intended for agricultural purposes; areas allocated for irrigation for agricultural purposes.
2.8.0 Vacant and transitioning land
Section titled “2.8.0 Vacant and transitioning land”As a subclass of Production agriculture and plantations, land must recently have been used for agriculture or plantations.
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Land in the process of rehabilitation for agricultural production (e.g. after significant flooding), and which is actively being recovered.
Land where a previous pattern of agriculture may be observed but that is not currently under production, but not due to physical land degradation.
Unused land that is degraded through erosion or flood events that is not being rehabilitated.
Land cleared of vegetation where the current proposed land use is unknown.
2.9.0 Smallholder farm
Section titled “2.9.0 Smallholder farm”A rural property larger than a rural residential property (> 2 ha) but where the primary motivation is still residential rather than commercial agricultural production, and where any land management is low-intensity and incidental to the residential occupation.
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