Labour's planned water charge could have unintended consequences, including more corporate ownership and dairy conversion, irate farmers said at Labour's water policy meeting in Dunedin last night.
Labour water spokesman David Parker dismissed such fears, or said there could be remedies, such as different charges for different users.
Many in the audience were not convinced, and Mr Parker said some of them simply did not agree that commercial users should pay to use water.
The sticking point for many was charging irrigators when other land users caused more water degradation. Some asked why Labour had not considered a pollution tax.
Some did not think it fair that Otago, with relatively good water quality, could be among the hardest hit.