The Land and Water Forum has released its final report and is calling for immediate action on national water management.
The forum was established in 2009, involving 58 stakeholders from agricultural and environmental groups, iwi, energy companies, recreational interests, and industry.
It says a national policy statement on freshwater is important, but will not do the job on its own.
It says a range of supporting processes are essential, including the development of a national strategic approach to water management, legislation on a range of matters, and further work on water allocation.
