A Waitangi Tribunal report and recommendations on water ownership have put Māori rights and interests in freshwater firmly back in the public spotlight, just as the Government releases a raft of policy changes.

Ten years at the helm of Irrigation New Zealand is soon to end for chief executive Andrew Curtis; he leaves the post next March.

Fish & Game chief executive Martin Taylor has dismissed as “ridiculous” a claim by Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtis that irrigation is good for the environment.

The good work farmers are already doing to minimise the environmental impact of irrigation could stop if they had to pay water royalties, says Irrigation New Zealand chair Nicky Hyslop.

Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtis says Labour's “water tax” would affect every New Zealander.