Keeping stock out of waterways

Stock exclusion rules

Applying the stock exclusion rules to your land

To help you understand which stock exclusion rules apply on your land, we've developed a stock exclusion map (excluding wetlands) and step-by-step guides for each region.

How to use the stock exclusion map 

• Open the stock exclusion map.
• Zoom in and scroll to find your property.
• Click on your land.
• The pop-up text box outlines the rule sets that apply to your property.
• Consult the guide for your region below for step-by-step instructions on where to exclude stock on your land.

The three-metre rule

The three-metre rule applies to all lakes and rivers wider than one metre.

In these waterways, the following stock types must be kept at least three metres from the waterbody:

• dairy cattle, dairy support cattle, beef cattle, deer and pigs on new pastoral systems;
• dairy cattle, dairy support cattle and pigs on any terrain;
• beef cattle and deer that are intensively grazing on any terrain.

There is an exception to this rule where a permanent fence within the three-metre buffer existed before 5 October 2023. For these purposes, a permanent fence could be a deer fence, a post and batten fence with driven or dug fence posts; or an electric fence with at least two electrified wires and driven or dug.

Intensive winter grazing land requires a five metre setback from lakes, rivers, surface water drains and wetlands, and stock must also be excluded from critical source areas. 

Permanent exclusion areas

These are areas where stock are not allowed to enter.

They include lakes, rivers, wetlands, as well as areas afforded special protection to ensure drinking water sources are safe; for cultural reasons; to protect recreational areas; or to safeguard taonga species.

Canterbury-wide exclusion rules

All farmed cattle, deer, and pigs must be removed from the bed and banks of lakes and rivers that:

• contain salmon spawning sites, inanga (whitebait) spawning habitats, or critical habitats identified under Plan Change 7
• are within 1000m upstream of a bathing site in a river, or 500m from a bathing site in a lake
• are spring-fed plains rivers (including the bed and banks)
• are community drinking-water protection zones.

Dairy cattle, dairy support cattle, beef cattle, deer and pigs are required to be excluded from all wetlands that:

• are identified in a regional or district plan, or a regional policy statement or
• support threatened species (as defined in the NPS-FM).

Area-specific exclusion rules

• In the Selwyn-Te Waihora zone, the exclusion rules for cattle, deer and pigs also apply to surface drains where water is present, and in the Cultural Landscape/Values Management Area.
• In Waimakariri, the exclusion rules for cattle, deer and pigs also apply to springs that discharge into a surface waterbody, artificial watercourses that discharge into a lake, river or wetland, and in the Ashley/Waimakariri Plains area.
• In the Ashburton region, the exclusion rules for cattle, deer and pigs also apply to the Main and Secondary Hinds Drains at all times, and any other surface drains within the Hinds/Hekeao Plains area when water is present
• In Banks Peninsula, all stock, including sheep, must be removed from the bed, banks and the riparian margin of the Ōkana, Ōkuti, and Takiritawai rivers and their tributaries and from Te Roto ō Wairewa Lake Forsyth. Access to these areas by sheep requires resource consent.
• In the Orari-Temuka-Opihi-Pareora region, the exclusion rules for cattle, deer and pigs also apply to springs and artificial watercourses that discharge to a lake, river or wetland, and across the Mātaitai and Waipuna protection zone;
• In South Coastal Canterbury, the exclusion rules for cattle, deer and pigs also apply to surface drains (but not sub-surface drains, stormwater swales, other artificial watercourses or ephemeral waterways).

Additional rules you must consider

Intensively farmed stock

Intensively farmed stock are not permitted in a lake, a river wider than one metre or more than 100mm deep under median flow conditions, or a wetland.

Stock access to these waterways is a non-complying activity requiring resource consent.

Intensively farmed stock include:

• cattle or deer grazed on irrigated land or contained for break-feeding of winterfeed crops;
• dairy cattle, including cows, whether dry or milking, and whether on irrigated land or not;
• farmed pigs.

Contact us for further guidance on whether a consent could be granted for your situation.

Accessing or crossing waterways

There are additional rules for where and how stock are permitted to cross waterways. Where stock are permitted access to waterways, there are requirements to protect water quality.

Please consult the relevant step-by-step guide to keeping stock out of waterways for your land.

More information

Contact us if you have any questions about using our step-by-step guides or stock exclusion in general.