The government is proposing changes that would allow homes to be built on land categorised as suitable for some types of food production or grazing.
National campaigned on removing areas designated as Land Use Capability 3, from the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Land, to enable more dwellings to be built to ease the housing crisis.
The Minister for Resource Management Act Reform, Chris Bishop said on his Facebook page the proposal would make it easier for people to use their own land.
The restrictions were introduced by the Labour government, to protect food producing areas from being used for residential building.
Concerns have been raised that any change could impact regional food security, but others say it lifts unnecessary restrictions.
One option being suggested, as part of the proposed change, is to retain protection in a handful of key horticultural growing areas . like Pukekohe and Horowhenua, by designating them "Special Agricultural Areas".
Public consultation closes in about a fortnight.
Pierre Roudier is President of the Society of Soil Scientists Sam Chidgey is a planning and environmental lawyer at Tavendale and Partners', based in Christchurch
