What are the drivers of rural land fragmentation in the Tasman district and what have been the planning responses? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Resource and Environmental Planning, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Abstract

Rural land use in the Tasman District of New Zealand is characterised by fragmentation of farming land, driven by a mix of historical land use patterns, global influences, and political decision-­‐making. Colonial farmers developed subsistence farming on small allotments of mixed productivity. Pockets of highly fertile land supported the development of small-­‐scale horticultural industries and the region’s good climate and high amenity value have made it a desirable destination for urban-­‐employed migrants seeking lifestyle opportunities. The fragmentation of rural land occurs via subdivision, a process that is administered by the local district council, regulated by a district plan framework and land-­‐use consent mechanisms. Analysis of Tasman District plans and policy, case law, and subdivision data, reveals a regulatory process that is failing to limit ongoing land fragmentation with increasing numbers of subdivision applications and new allotments and dwellings developed on the most productive land.