Farming under Freshwater Rules: A New Zealand Case Study of Regulation, Resilience, and Value

In response to growing concerns over freshwater degradation caused by nutrient runoff from intensive agriculture, New Zealand implemented regulatory reforms aimed at improving water quality. The study of Percy et al. (2025) investigates the impacts of these freshwater regulations—specifically in the Selwyn Waihora catchment of Canterbury—on farmland values, farm productivity, and farmer perceptions.