Farmers had already done "a heck of a lot of good work," including fencing 98 per cent of significant waterways said Mackle, who believed some regulations would slow this progress down.
"They don't want to be encumbered with dumb rules."
Listen below:
These "dumb" rules included new restrictions for pugging, paddock slope and resowing of crops that will have a detrimental effect on winter grazing, especially in Southland and Otago.
The man behind the reforms, Environment Minister David Parker, defended his decisions on yesterday's show, but farmers were concerned they would lead to huge costs and a lot of extra paperwork.
Another worry was that those making the regulations didn't actually know about farming, said Mackle.
"You come back to this sowing date ... every farmer I've spoken to clearly is fully aware that they will try and get a paddock back into grass as quickly as they can – and I don't think the regulators understand that."
"This is just an example where you've got to work with farmers and work out where you need rules ... and where you don't. And I think that's what's annoying farmers."
DairyNZ had also been "shut out" from the freshwater process and had to "engage from the outside," by sending in a "massive submission," Mackle said.
However, DairyNZ had been included in the implementation group set up to ensure the rules were applied, which Mackle said was "encouraging".
"I hope we can pick our way through this stuff and really focus on the things that make the greatest difference, but do it in a way that everyone can cope with and actually deliver."
