A consistent voice, backed by technical credibility, IrrigationNZ has long been a trusted and informed voice in national discussions about freshwater management, irrigation and water infrastructure.

Our contribution is grounded in practical experience, technical knowledge and an understanding of what it takes to plan, design, construct and operate water infrastructure. We work across the entire irrigation system, from water resource planning, capture and storage through to distribution, efficient application, water measurement and assessment of system and environmental performance.

Importantly, our expertise is not tied to a particular land use. Water security matters to horticulture, viticulture, arable farming, dairy, sheep and beef, as well as the communities and industries that depend on reliable water supplies.

We are equally clear about where our expertise lies. Our focused, land-use-neutral approach allows us to contribute specialist knowledge on irrigation, water management and infrastructure without duplicating the broader roles of other sector organisations. It has established IrrigationNZ as a valued technical contributor across the primary sector, with industry colleagues regularly seeking our input when developing policy positions and formal submissions.

Looking back, our 2023 Election Manifesto provided a clear example of the continuity of this work. It called for a dedicated Minister for Water, a cross-agency national water strategy, stronger recognition of water storage and distribution infrastructure, enabling regulatory frameworks, and government support for feasibility studies and investment in community water projects.

It also challenged the narrow perception of irrigation as simply a means of agricultural intensification, highlighting its contribution to food security, climate adaptation, economic diversification, environmental outcomes and community resilience.

Now, our 2026 Election Manifesto, underpinned by the message that water is New Zealand’s strategic advantage, builds on that foundation, focusing on four priorities: leadership and strategy, infrastructure and investment, resource management reform, and workforce capability.

These priorities reflect a longstanding proposition: New Zealand’s water challenge is not simply one of scarcity. It is managing the variability of water availability across seasons and regions, while protecting freshwater values and enabling communities to make better use of the resources available to them.

The growing political recognition of these issues reflects a shift towards solutions IrrigationNZ has been promoting for years.

Political Priority

In October, IrrigationNZ invited political parties to outline their positions on a long-term national water strategy.

The responses reveal encouraging areas of common ground, alongside differences about the role of government, infrastructure investment and environmental management.

National has committed to publishing a National Rural and Provincial Water Use Strategy in 2027, supported by a national water storage register and a long-term infrastructure pipeline.

New Zealand First has proposed a dedicated national water infrastructure delivery entity, drawing on the Tasmanian Irrigation model to integrate feasibility, design, consenting, funding and delivery.

Labour proposes working with the Infrastructure Commission to incorporate water security, storage and catchment planning into the National Infrastructure Plan.

ACT supports a long-term strategy, favouring industry leadership and a government focus on removing regulatory obstacles and providing investment certainty.

The Opportunity Party is open to a national strategy where its benefits can be demonstrated, while the Greens support a strategy focused on freshwater ecosystem health and environmental protection, alongside smaller-scale storage opportunities.

Unsurprisingly, substantial differences remain, particularly regarding public funding, major infrastructure development and environmental priorities. Nevertheless, the responses demonstrate growing recognition that water security warrants national attention, even where parties differ on the appropriate solutions.

For IrrigationNZ, the opportunity is to build on areas of agreement and encourage a durable national approach connecting freshwater management, climate adaptation, food production, environmental outcomes and community resilience.