The amount of farmland that is irrigated has risen markedly over the past five years, with much of the increase in Canterbury.
Statistics New Zealand figures show that more than 100,000 new hectares were been brought under irrigation between 2007 and 2012.
Manager of business, infrastructure and performance Hamish Hill says more than half of newly-irrigated land is in Canterbury with an area the size of Lake Taupo being developed.
He says an increase in dairying in the South Island is a factor in this demand for irrigation.
Mr Hill says Southland and Manawatu/Whanganui also recorded big increases in irrigated land.
More than 700,000 hectares of New Zealand farmland is irrigated.
Between 2007 and 2012 dairy cattle numbers rose by 23% to a total of 6.4 million animals.
In contrast, New Zealand's sheep flock dropped nearly 20% - or by more than 7 million sheep - to 31 million in 2012.
