Allegrow recently celebrated 10 years of working alongside farmers and growers across the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne regions, helping them navigate increasingly complex environmental regulations with farmer-focused advice.

Founded in 2015 by managing director Lilian Harley, the company began with a vision of providing down-to-earth support for landowners.

A consultant herself, Ms Harley remains closely involved in the day-to-day running of the business.

Originally, she was living remotely on a farm juggling young children and saw an opportunity to use her skills to help farmers and growers negotiate environmental regulations

What started as a one-woman operation based out of Ms Harley’s home, has grown into a  team of eight, including six consultants.

The business operates from an office in Bridge Street, Ōpōtiki, working with dairy farmers, dry stock farmers and growers throughout the region.

Allegrow supports clients with a wide range of services including water take consents (groundwater and surface water), effluent consents, Overseer nutrient budgets, farm planning, and OSET consents.

Team members are embedded in the rural community, with strong relationships across councils and rural organisations.

Allegrow is involved in regional initiatives including farm planning projects with MPI and Horticulture New Zealand.

The team works with a catchment group in Matawai and is in the early stages of setting one up in Ōpōtiki, supporting environmental improvement among farmers and growers.

Over the past decade, it has supported hundreds of farmers and growers to meet their environmental obligations while continuing to thrive in their businesses.

“I can’t believe it’s nearly been 10 years since I took the leap of faith and crossed over into the realm of consultancy.

Time flies when you are having fun. I’ve found what drives me and what I love doing – helping our farmers and growers negotiate environmental regulations,” Ms Harely said.

Water take consents are a current example of work the team is involved in.

A large number of water take consents across the Bay of Plenty are set to expire in October 2026. These are long-standing consents, many granted 20-30 years ago, which now need to be renewed under updated environmental rules. Farmers and growers are encouraged to plan early. It’s recommended that applications be lodged at least six months before the consent expires to avoid any disruption to water supply.

Preparing a robust application can take time, especially in allocation-limited catchments or where new requirements must be met.

For straightforward renewals – where the proposed take and conditions remain the same – there is often the option of a streamlined process, which is faster and less expensive than a full notified consent.

Water allocation is a critical issue for the Bay of Plenty’s rural economy. The region faces increasing pressures from drought risk, growing demand, and the need to protect stream flows and aquifers. New freshwater planning requirements prioritise ecosystem health and cultural values, meaning future consents may include stricter conditions or reduced allocations in some areas.

Early planning gives consent holders time to understand new expectations, gather water-use data, and consider options such as efficiency improvements, collective consents, or alternative sources.

“By preparing ahead, water users can help ensure sustainable access to water while meeting the region’s environmental goals, Ms Harley said.