9 Jun 2009

Water plan launched by Govt

5:57 am on 9 June 2009

A plan has been launched by the Government to better manage New Zealand's water supplies.

The supply of water is reaching crisis point in some areas because much rain falls in the wrong place and much of the rest is badly managed.

The Ministers for the Environment and Agriculture say proper systems are needed to protect water quality, decide who gets how much of it and who should pay for storing and piping water.

A new group, the Land & Water Forum, has been given 12 months to gather ideas from the main groups with an interest in water.

The Government says one possibility will be a mechanism to allow people with water rights who don't need them, to trade them with others who do.