The report names lifestyle blocks as a threat to versatile land near urban centres. Photo / Getty Images
An environmental report released recently further substantiates Horticulture New Zealand's concerns about ongoing urban and lifestyle block expansion into prime growing land, and shows that urgent action is required to slow this down.
The Environment Aotearoa 2019 report, released by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ, shows that
the growth of urban centres threatens the limited versatile land surrounding regional centres such as Auckland, Waikato, and Canterbury.
The report also names lifestyle blocks as a threat to versatile land near urban centres, with an average of 5800 new blocks a year since 1998, many of which encroach upon prime growing soils.
This loss of versatile land can force growers onto less naturally productive land, or out of production entirely.
Horticulture New Zealand natural resources and environment manager Michelle Sands welcomes the report, and says that we can't afford to keep losing high-quality soils.
