Farm Size Change in New Zealand

The size of farm holdings is a commonly used indicator of change in rural societies and economies. This paper reviews the explanation for changes in farm size in developed western countries and identifies the inadequacy of national data in presenting an accurate explanation of change. The literature is characterised by relative neglect of the influence of different farming systems, policy and legislative changes and other factors. In New Zealand, national farm size has decreased since the mid-1970s, but the experiences of different parts of the country has varied considerably. Farm size has decreased the most where subdivision and intensification of land use have taken place, whilst in some pastoral regions farm size has been maintained or has even increased.