Environmental group Forest and Bird has welcomed the Government's freshwater reform proposal but says it falls short on cleaning up waterways already affected by pollution.
The Government has released a public consultation document which acknowledges water quality is deteriorating in parts of the country but suggests a light-handed approach to regulation.
Environment Minister Amy Adams said most people prefer to have decisions about how water is managed made by local councils and communities.
Forest and Bird agrees but advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell said there does not seem to be any real plan to clean up rivers and lakes such as Lake Rotorua.
He said the Land and Water Forum made clear recommendations about polluted or near polluted waterways and the need for limits to be set which do not appear to have been picked up in the document.
The Government says the proposals are consistent with and based on the Land and Water Forum's recommended approach and give effect to their core recommendations.
The document said managing water more efficiently through irrigation has the potential to increase agricultural exports by $4 billion per year by 2026.
Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills said farmers are keen to make that happen. Mr Wills said farmers also want to step up and make more effort to maintain the quality of waterways.
