Summary

For the purposes of this study, smallholdings were defined as blocks between 0.4 hectares (ha) and 30 ha in area. Those involved in the study self-identified from five distinct types provided within the questionnaire (lifestyler, hobby farmer, small farmer, farmer, horticulturalist/grower) that engage in different levels of agricultural production. However, property databases such as Quotable Value New Zealand’s Valuation Roll and AgriQuality New Zealand’s AgriBase database use their own definitions of lifestyle blocks and other holdings so that care must be exercised when comparing the results of our study with information from these databases.

Background and Rationale

The motives for the study were as follows:

Concerns regarding conversion of near-urban farm land to lifestyle blocks and other smallholdings
Questions concerning the contribution of smallholders to national agricultural production.
A need to assess smallholders’ thinking about biosecurity and environmental issues.

Research Objectives

The objectives of the study were to:

Quantify the number of smallholdings in New Zealand and the area of land involved.
Assess available land-based registries as to their coverage and accuracy of information on lifestyle blocks.
Investigate land use on smallholdings.
Assess smallholder awareness of biosecurity and environmental issues.

Research Methods

The study involved the following research approaches:

Analyse information on lifestyle blocks in the Valuation Roll and AgriBase.
Conduct a ground-truthing exercise to assess the level of spatial completeness and accuracy (pertaining to smallholdings) of the Land Information Core Record System, the Valuation Roll and AgriBase.
Conduct a postal questionnaire on a random sample of smallholders.

Key Findings

There were 139,868 lifestyle block assessments in the Valuation Roll, totalling over 753,020 ha. The mean block size was 5.53 ha (median = 2.7, range 0.0006 - 955.7 ha).
There were 22,687 farms with a lifestyle farm type (LIF) in AgriBase. The mean size was 4.97 ha (median = 3.8, range 0.01 – 603.1 ha). In all, AgriBase had some 60,213 properties, either categorised as LIF or ≤ 35 ha, involving 539,506 ha of land.
Approximately 6,800 new lifestyle blocks are registered in the Valuation Roll annually. This equates to just over 37,600 ha per year converted to lifestyle blocks.
There are different types of smallholders that have varying engagement in agriculture.
Many smallholders are engaged in agricultural production, but in general this production does not solely support their households.
Smallholders take action to control Tb.
The use of, and intentions to use, organic methods are not as prevalent among smallholders as those of other farmers and growers.
Most smallholders value the merits of country life, including peace and quiet and clean air, and are involved in country life through association with rural organisations.
In general, smallholders engage in the management of diseases pests and weeds, and are aware of biosecurity issues and practice. In general, smallholders take appropriate action to alert authorities regarding new exotic diseases, pests or weeds.

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