16 Jul 2008

NZ water supplies under stress

1:02 pm on 16 July 2008

The Business Council for Sustainable Development says central and local Government need to give a lot more attention to managing water supplies.

Chief executive Peter Neilsen says increased demand from agricultural intensification and population growth are putting stress on water resources.

Under the existing distribution system, he says most major catchments could be fully allocated by 2012.

Mr Neilsen says water resources are already stretched in parts of New Zealand, with supplies in some areas experiencing over-allocation.

He says work needs to be done now, to avoid the sort of allocation problems that Australia is experiencing.