The doors to our Whitianga and Paeroa offices will be closed for the summer break from 4pm on Friday, 20 December, while our Taupō and Hamilton offices will close for the summer break at 1pm on Tuesday, 24 December. All offices will reopen on Monday, 6 January 2025. To report air or water pollution, unsafe water activities in or on a river, lake or harbour, or make a general enquiry or information request during this time, call us 24/7 on 0800 800 401.

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Planting, waterways and wetland management

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Planting information

Planting guides

View all our planting guides here.

Trees on farms

A guide to growing trees in the Waikato region, which covers a range of aspects of selection, establishment and care of trees on farms.

Scrub vegetation

Planting and managing scrub, including manuka.

Plant and animal pests

Search for a plant or animal pest in our region.

Biodiversity

Many of our native plants and animals are unique to New Zealand - some are found only in our region. Some are already extinct and many others are under threat from habitat loss and degradation, pests and disease. Find out about biodiversity programmes in the Waikato.

Carbon Calculator for planted native forests

Work out how much carbon your planted native forest is storing over a defined period of time or determine how many native shrubs and trees you will need to plant to off-set your carbon footprint.

Tax breaks for riparian planting

From July 2013, riparian plantings by farmers are tax deductible as an operational expense instead of being classified as capital expenditure.

A change to the Income Tax Act explicitly allows deductions for plantings to “prevent or mitigate discharges into water courses or water bodies”. The provision is available to trees, shrubs and other plantings.

The Government says the new measure will encourage farmers to plant trees and shrubs in riparian strips along creeks and rivers, thereby increasing natural habitat and reducing the amount of sediment and nutrients entering waterways.

Waikato Regional Council also offers grants of up to 35 per cent of the cost of fencing off waterways and riparian plantings on farms in priority catchments.

For more advice on planting and fencing issues, contact a council land management officer on 0800 800 401.

Waterway crossings

Find out how well-designed and maintained tracks and raceways are one of the secrets to a productive farm business. They make it quicker and easier to get around the farm, reduce wear and tear on farm vehicles, and help prevent lameness in stock. Good tracks and raceways also improve water quality by keeping dirty runoff out of waterways. 

Tracks and raceways Managing farm runoff Best practice guidelines for waterway crossings

Rules and compliance

Waikato Regional Plan

Read information about bridges, culverts and fords, planting on the beds and the banks of rivers and lakes and protecting or modifying wetlands.

Farmer’s guide to environmental rules in the Waikato region

The permitted activity guides provide a summary overview of a number of our rules for farming activities.

More information