Federated Farmers has endorsed the National Party's proposal to make small-scale solar projects a permitted activity under New Zealand's resource management system. The policy would remove the need for resource consents on rooftop solar, ground-mounted farm solar, and small battery storage. National says the change is meant to lower costs and speed up renewable energy adoption for rural property owners. Federated Farmers energy spokesperson Mark Hooper said the current system forces farmers into expensive and unnecessary consent processes for straightforward solar installations. A single national standard would replace the current patchwork of council rules, giving farmers more certainty to invest in on-farm generation. The group also supports National's proposed Home Energy Fund, which would offer low-interest loans for renewable energy investments. The announcement follows a key recommendation in Federated Farmers' 2026 election platform. The group argues that rising fuel and electricity prices have turned solar from an environmental niche into a mainstream business decision for many farming operations. Removing planning barriers could unlock more on-farm investment in energy resilience and emissions reduction.
