Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Water management focus of Rotorua conference

Updated at 1:27 pm on 9 November 2011

An audience of 1000 will hear how New Zealand's plentiful water supply gives it a strong advantage in a world where it's getting harder to meet the demand for food.

The Water New Zealand conference running in Rotorua over the next three days will feature 100 speakers on the topic of Advancing Water Reform.

Water New Zealand chief executive Murray Gibb says rules on water management were made before water came under pressure as a resource and changes are expected next year.

He says it's timely to discuss the topics of water footprinting, the importance of water to the economy, and the lessons learned from the Canterbury earthquakes.

Mr Gibb says water touches everyone in the community and is perceived by the community as being their number one environmental concern.

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