Photo: Unsplash / Jan Kaluza
Waikato farmers and horticulturalists fear Auckland's water shortage will ultimately divert resources away from their operations and affect food supplies. The Government has fast-tracked Watercare Auckland's request to take an extra 200 million litres a day from the lower reaches of the Waikato River for drinking water and other municipal uses. This is to be considered by a Board of Inquiry, but a time frame has yet to be set.
Horticulture NZ Chief Executive Mike Chapman says Auckland needs to solve its own water problems rather than looking to take from another region's supply. Also joining the conversation Te Kuiti farmer and President of Waikato Federated Farmers Jacqui Hahr, and Russ Rimmington who is the Chair of the Waikato Regional Council.
