Pitting potatoes against property - that's how the government's proposal to protect highly productive farm land from being subdivided or used for urban expansion has been described.
The Environment and Agriculture Ministers have released a document for public consultation, that would give councils a clear policy for land use decisions.
Over the last decade more than 200 produce growers in Auckland alone have shut up shop as more rural land has been rezoned to residential to keep up with the demand for housing.
Environment Minister David Parker talks through the details with Lisa Owen.
